Four Colorado businesses – including one in Windsor – are among the recipients of $27-milllion in USDA funding to implement renewable energy and efficiency measures into their operations.
The grants are a part of the Rural Energy for America Program or REAP – which offers funding to farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses. 500 projects were selected nationally in the latest go around – including a solar project at Manweiler Hardware Inc. in Windsor.
Heather Anthony a descendent of the more than 70 year old family-owned business.
“You don’t put a solar system on a roof if you are not going to be here in the next ten years. We felt that it was a good investment for us because we plan on being around,” says Anthony.
Manweiler Hardware Inc. was deemed a rural business based on census data from ten years ago when there was less growth in the northern Colorado community. Anthony says the $25,779.00 grant help will offset the cost of installing 63 solar panels that will provide about 60% of the stores energy needs.
Other Colorado companies receiving grants for solar projects are Deer Hill, Inc. in Mancos, High Country Orchards; LLC in Palisade and Jack C. Gilleland, LLC DBA Gilleland Far in La Jara.
