Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Happy Holidays from Prosperity Ag & Energy


Merry Christmas! What a wonderful year it has been at Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources. As the year ends, my thoughts turn to all that I am grateful for and I always like to assess the accomplishments and growth areas of the year. I want you to know that I appreciate your business, your advice, your kinship and the opportunity we've had to network with you this year.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve you!

2011 saw us writing many grants and receiving many exciting awards for our clients. If you'd like to see a sample of these projects, take a look at the new Clients Awarded page on our website (http://www.prosperityagenergy.com/clients-awarded.html). Prosperity was certified as a Women Business Enterprise this year, and I was accepted into the National Speakers Association. Press releases about these opportunities and new information about speaking services are located on the website at: http://www.prosperityagenergy.com/speaking.html. We expect 2012 to be another exceptional year and I offer you my committment to do the best we can for your projects.   

Best Wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a New Year of Health, Happiness & Prosperity!

Sarah Aubrey, Principal
Prosperity Ag & Energy Resources 





NEWS RELEASE 
 PROSPERITY CLIENTS AWARDED 2011 USDA REAP GRANTS

Monrovia, Ind., December 14, 2011 -USDA Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP) award recipients have been named. Thirty-six (36) Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources clients across ten (10) states have been awarded grants for renewable energy projects and energy efficient improvements, which totals over $1.3 million in funding. Over the past four months, USDA made three announcements of award recipients and today USDA released their final announcement, which concludes the REAP award cycle for 2011. Click here for today's press release from USDA. This list may not be exhaustive, however, as there may be a lag between applicant notifications of award and the issuance of USDA's announcement today. Prosperity will publish an additional release with new awardees when they can be reached. Prosperity client awardees are as follows: 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
DE - JAMES L CARPENTER & SON, INC.      Milton                     Energy Efficiency                  $49,424
IL - AG PLUS DEVELOPMENT, INC.                Tallula                     Energy Efficiency                  $49,663
IL - DEERFIELD FARMS, INC.                            Nashville               Energy Efficiency                  $33,513
IL - LOWER FARMS, INC.                                   Lanark                     Energy Efficiency                  $48,774
IL - WEST BUREAU FARMS, INC.                    Manlius                  Energy Efficiency                  $44,435
IN - ARDIS A KINDIG                                          Brook                      Energy Efficiency                  $50,000
IN - AUSTIN'S WEST-SIDE SUNOCO, INC.   Austin                     Flexible Fuel Pump             $16,635
IN - BYRON ED RUGE                                         Valparaiso             Energy Efficiency                  $19,989
IN - B ALLEN BUCHANAN II                             Fowler                    Energy Efficiency                  $44,470
IN - CECIL K KOGER                                             Stilesville              Flexible Fuel Pump             $45,185
IN - DANIEL R COFFMAN                                 Hebron                   Energy Efficiency                  $47,708
IN - EDDIE'S SERVICE, INC.                              West Baden          Flexible Fuel Pump             $43,031
IN - EDWARD D HORRAL                                  Patoka                     Energy Efficiency                  $33,467
IN - ERIC O'FARRELL                                          Monticello             Energy Efficiency                  $44,343
IN - GARRETT LAND CORPORATION           Montpelier            Energy Efficiency                  $43,086
IN - GERALD E WERNER                                   Union Mills            Energy Efficiency                  $28,811
IN - HARPRING FARMS, LLP.                           Greensburg           Energy Efficiency                  $12,535
IN - JERRY HARLOW                                          Tipton                      Energy Efficiency                  $17,842
IN - JOHN S HUSSEY                                          Windfall                  Energy Efficiency                  $49,777
IN - LARRY BERENDA                                        North Liberty        Energy Efficiency                  $12,863
IN - LYNN FIECHTER FARMS, INC.                Keystone                Energy Efficiency                  $40,999
IN - MICHEAL R MCDANIEL                            Waldron                  Energy Efficiency                  $12,306
IN - RICHARD K NEIBERT                                 Morocco                 Energy Efficiency                  $25,131
IN - RICK FIECHTER FARMS, INC.                  Montpelier           Energy Efficiency                   $45,070
IN - ROBERT BREWSAUGH                              Greensburg           Energy Efficiency                  $15,155
IN - WILFORD J HAYDEN                                  Lowell                     Energy Efficiency                  $49,571
KY - KEVIN CHRISTMAN                                  Prestonville          Energy Efficiency                  $49,750
MD - BROADVIEW FARMS, INC.                   Westminster         Energy Efficiency                  $30,367
MI - APPLE FARMS, INC.                                  Elwell                      Energy Efficiency                  $26,600
MI - BRISTLE FARMS, LLC.                               Manchester           Energy Efficiency                  $28,210
MI - FRANK KUNIK FARMS, INC.                  St. Charles             Energy Efficiency                   $47,874
MI - HUNT FARMS, INC.                                  Davison                   Energy Efficiency                   $49,750
MI - LEON P CLARK                                            Eagle                       Energy Efficiency                   $48,869
OH - GAINER FARMS, INC.                              Urbana                   Energy Efficiency                   $41,401
PA - SUSQUEHANNA AQUACULTURES, INC.   Mt. Wolf          Other                                         $24,675
WI - FENWICK FARMS, INC.                          Brodhead               Energy Efficiency                   $41,625
                                                                                 
The REAP Program funding is authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). REAP funding can be used for renewable energy projects, energy efficient improvements, energy audits, feasibility studies and renewable energy development assistance. Information on the REAP program can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html 

Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources began in 2007 and is a full service funding opportunities development firm. Prosperity focuses on grant writing, guaranteed loans and general grant administration working closely with state and federal contacts to strengthen communities, empower entrepreneurs and foster growth for farms and businesses. Owner Sarah Aubrey also writes and speaks widely on the issue of funding and entrepreneurship. Information on Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources can be found at www.prosperityagenergy.com.  

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Monday, December 5, 2011

Prosperity's Client Awarded IDEM Recycling Development Grant

MONROVIA, IND. - December 5, 2011 - The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has selected Prosperity Ag & Energy Resources' client, Perpetual Recycling Solutions, LLC. for the Recycling Market Development Program (RMDP) Grant. Perpetual Recycling Solutions, LLC. was selected to receive $50,000 to purchase and install recycling equipment at their newly acquired facility in Richmond, Ind.

Read More...
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/PROSPERITY-S-CLIENT-AWARDED-IDEM-RECYCLING-MARKET-DEVELOPMENT-GRANT.html?soid=1103345541240&aid=mKEJy8jD2pg

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Prosperity Certified by Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)

Sarah Aubrey, owner of Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources, is now certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a result of the Council’s comprehensive certification process. This process validated Prosperity as a successful woman-owned business through formal documentation and a site visit which was administered by one of WBENC’s 14 Regional Partner Organizations.

As a certified women-owned business, Prosperity will have access to over 500 major U.S. corporations representing thousands of well known brands and government agencies and is eligible to exhibit at national and regional business expositions. WBENC was founded in 1997 and is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled, and operated by women in the United States. The Council, a national 501©(3) non-profit, is also the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. For more information, visit www.wbenc.com.

A full time entrepreneur since 2004, Aubrey created and sold a direct marketing business, Aubrey's Natural Meats, LLC. in 2008, is a Certified Grant Administrator and a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA). She is also the author of two non-fiction books with over 50,000 copies sold worldwide. More information can be found at www.prosperityagenergy.com.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Prosperity Ag & Energy Resources Secures Funding for Indiana Fuel Stations

MONROVIA, Ind., October 4, 2011 –Three Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources’ clients have been awarded grant funding from the USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) Flex Fuel Pump Program to install flexible fuel pumps at their existing Indiana stations. Total funds awarded among clients totaled $161,852.30. Recipients included Austin West-Side Sunoco, Austin; Little Point Auto and Truck Stop, Inc., Stilesville; and Eddies Service, Inc., West Baden.

Little Point Auto and Truck Stop, Inc. and Eddies Service, Inc. will offer E20 through E85 blends, while Austin West-Side Sonoco will supply E20, E50 and E85 blends. Eddie’s Service, Inc. plans to begin construction in November, and Cecil Koger owner of Austin West-Side Sunoco and Little Point Auto and Truck Stop, Inc. plans to start installation in spring 2012.

Both flex fuel pump initiative were new in 2011 and are expected to be available in 2012. USDA awarded funds of up to 25 percent of total project expenses to rural small businesses and ag producers, in rural areas only, to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy-efficiency improvements. REAP Program funds are authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of the 2008 Farm Bill. For more information on the program, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html .

ICMC’s Flex Fuel Pump Program provided new and existing Indiana stations up to 50 percent their project cost or a maximum of $20,000 toward the purchase of flex fuel pumps, hardware and storage or the conversion of an existing pump to flex fuel. The Flex Fuel Pump Program is made available by the Indiana corn checkoff. For more information on ICMC, visit www.incorn.org.

Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources began in 2007 and is a full service funding opportunities development firm. Prosperity focuses on grant writing, guaranteed loans and general grant administration working closely with state and federal contacts to strengthen communities, empower entrepreneurs and foster growth for farms and businesses. Information on Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources can be found at www.prosperityagenergy.com

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Wednesday, September 14, 2011

AUBREY ACCEPTED INTO NATIONAL SPEAKERS ASSOCATION

Contact:                                                  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sarah Aubrey
Prosperity Ag & Energy Resources
(317)996-2777 (office)
sarah@prosperityagenergy.com

SARAH AUBREY ACCEPTED INTO NATIONAL SPEAKERS ASSOCIATION

MONROVIA, Ind. - September 13, 2011 - Sarah Aubrey has been accepted as a professional member into the National Speakers Association (NSA) as of August 2011, following the Association's extensive internal review process. Member qualifications include presenting a minimum number of speeches annually and/or generating a minimum amount of revenue from paid speaking engagements. Aubrey is now part of the NSA network which brings professional speakers together to excel in their careers and better serve clients. She is also involved in several NSA sub-groups including the Motivational/Keynote, Seminar/Workshop Leaders, and Writers/Publishers groups. The NSA, established in 1973, is the leading organization for professional speakers. For more information, visit http://www.nsaspeaker.org/.

Aubrey provides speaking services focusing on entrepreneurship and small business development strategies, including assisting audiences in finding and applying for grants.

Aubrey is a member of the Writer's Center of Indiana where she consults fellow members on developing successful book proposals suitable for publishers. A full time entrepreneur since 2004, she created and sold a direct marketing business, Aubrey's Natural Meats, LLC. in 2008. She is the author of two non-fiction books with over 50,000 copies sold worldwide. Starting & Running Your Own Small Business Farm (Storey Publishing, 2008) helps niche farmers position themselves well for the opportunities afforded by today's market. Aubrey's second book, The Profitable Hobby Farm, How to Build a Sustainable Local Foods Business (Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2010) is a down-to-earth guide giving all the information one needs to know to start a local foods business. Aubrey's company, Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources, is a full-service funding opportunities firm which aids entrepreneurs, communities and institutions of higher education in securing grants and loans in the areas of agriculture, energy, environment and food manufacturing. More information can be found at www.prosperityagenergy.com.

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Friday, September 2, 2011

August Travels: From the Desk of Erin Smith, Marketing Manager

Last month, Prosperity was out and about enjoying summer and many agricultural activities. On Farmers Day, August 17, and in honor of Sarah, I attended ISDA's Celebration of Agriculture & Photo Contest Reception in the Normandy Barn at the Indiana State Fair. The highlight of this event was the presentation of the 2011 AgriVision Award presented by L.T. Governor Becky Skillman, which honors a Hoosier who has displayed a deep commitment and vision for Indiana agriculture.

In addition to the award ceremony, I was happy to represent Sarah as she was recognized as a 2011 ISDA Photo Contest winner with her picture, "Hereford Haze."  Her photo was on display in the Normandy Barn for the duration of the state fair, and is currently on display in a traveling photo gallery. All winning photos will also be in a 2012 calendar sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau and designed by Hoosier Ag Today.



Also in the month of August, I attended Indiana Farm Tours in Southern Indiana hosted by the Indiana Soybean Alliance. The tour was a two-day experience, and stops were made at multiple ag production facilities. A tour bus carried participants to facilities consisting of cattle, egg laying pullets, hog, turkey and chicken, and dairy. Thank you Indiana Soybean Alliance for hosting the tour!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

The Final Post of Prosperity's Summer Intern, Rachel Bayless


Working at Prosperity has been a wonderful 13-week internship. I’ve had a lot of fun keeping this blog updated. And I’ve learned a lot about the business and gotten great work experience. This is my final post, as I will be heading back to Purdue in a couple of days.

This week I’ve taken Sarah’s books to Mooresville Feed & Seed to sell. There are now a few copies displayed at the cash register. I also went to a country store not too far from Prosperity where they expressed an interest in the books. They have a lot of hobby-farming customers who would be interested in learning how to make their operations profitable. And due to the convenient location, there may be some book signings in the future!

Yesterday I got to work at the Indiana State Fair. I sat in the Normandy Barn and got to talk to scores of fair-goers and hand out recipes for the Family of Farmers’ recipe trail. The Striped Bass with Pumpkin Sauce may not have been the biggest hit of the trail. But quite a few people said they planned on trying it, and it would probably go well with the dirt pudding recipe from the next stop on the recipe trail. Also, upstairs at the Normandy Barn, paintings of Indiana artist, Douglas David were featured, as well as the photographs of the ISDA photo contest winners. Sarah’s “Hereford Haze” is the first picture you see as you walk up the stairs. It’s really a very nice display of pictures and paintings. If you’re at the fair, it’s also a good break to the indoors for air conditioning.

On Monday I will begin my job as an advertising representative at The Exponent, Purdue’s student newspaper. Last semester I was a sales assistant, but now that I’ll have a territory and my own clients as an ad rep, I’m glad I’ve gotten some experience at Prosperity dealing with clients! I also write for a blog at Purdue. I am an admissions blogger, and maintain a blog for prospective students to read about life at Purdue. Once school starts I will be updating my “Boilermaker Life” blog again. You can keep track of what I’m up to at school on that blog. I am heading into my junior year, studying Sales and Marketing in the College of Agriculture. I’m looking forward to my new classes this semester, and hopefully I will have another fantastic semester at Purdue!


Monday, August 8, 2011

Hamming It Up


Last Friday morning Sarah, Erin, and I got to attend Indiana Pork’s annual Ham Breakfast at the fairgrounds. It was bright and early at 6:45am. Governor Mitch Daniels and Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman spoke briefly about Indiana agriculture and our wonderful state fair. As the governor said, even though this is the “Year of the Soybeans”, every year is the “Year of the Pig” at the fair. And of course we got a yummy breakfast. The Indiana State Fair has officially begun!

I only have one week remaining of my internship. For the final week I will be making phone calls to bookstores promoting Sarah’s books. The books are already sold in major bookstores such as Barnes & Noble and Borders. But we’re looking to have them in smaller stores around the state, a nice touch to local bookstores to feature an Indiana author. Mooresville Feed & Seed, past the Lowe’s, will be carrying a few copies beginning next week. More locations are to be announced.

This week I will hopefully have the opportunity to work at the state fair a couple days with the Indiana Office of Energy Development. It’ll be good networking, especially seeing as it’s about time for me to start looking for an internship for next summer! I am open to suggestions, recommendations, and job offers. The agriculture world is very close-knit, as I’ve learned this summer. It seems as though everybody knows each other. I have a lot of people left to meet!

Post/Photo by Rachel Bayless

Friday, July 29, 2011

Winding Down, Week 11


On Monday, Prosperity held its quarterly advisory board conference call. I had the opportunity to sit in and listen to the board discuss current happenings in the agriculture world from different vantage points. Indiana Farm Bureau president Don Villwock called in as a guest speaker, and I am glad I got the opportunity to sit in on the meeting.

Also, as a follow up to my previous posts regarding Sarah’s photo, Hereford Haze – an entry is the ISDA’s annual photo contest, the winners have been selected! Hereford Haze took first place in the “On the Farm” category. It goes very nicely with the other 11 photographs selected, which will be a part of a 2012 calendar put out by the Indiana Farm Bureau and Hoosier Ag Today. And throughout the fair you will be able to see the pictures displayed upstairs in the Normandy Barn. I hope you get a chance to visit the fair this year and see all the wonderful events going on, especially this “Year of the Soybean”.

Following the meeting on Monday, I got to meet the newest resident on the Aubrey property. I had never seen such a young calf before, and she’s about the cutest thing I’ve seen. Her name is A cappella. She’s precious.

Photo by Rachel Bayless

Monday, July 25, 2011

From the Desk of Prosperity’s Summer Intern, Rachel Bayless:


I can’t believe I only have three weeks left of my internship. This summer has gone by so quickly. My next three weeks will be focused on marketing Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business and The Profitable Hobby Farm. There will be quite a bit of email and phone correspondence with Indiana wineries and local businesses to try to sell the book at those locations in addition to the current major sellers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Hastings. And at some point in the next few weeks we’re going to try to set up a face-to-face sales call. I’ll admit, I’m nervous! But hopefully I can pick up some sales skills from my internship, as I continue studying sales & marketing.

It looks as though I’ll be working at the state fair for a couple days with the Indiana Office of Energy. I am truly excited to be seeing the fair from a different side. I’ve attended it almost every year, just with elephant ears and snow cones in mind. But I’m looking forward to seeing the agriculture and Indiana-focused side of the state fair and especially seeing the displays the Office of Energy presents to fair-goers interested in Indiana energy. And as I mentioned in my last post, the ISDA is putting on a “Celebration of Agriculture” event on August 17th. They will also be announcing their photo contest winners, and Sarah’s photo “Hereford Haze” is an entry!

Photo by Rachel Bayless

Friday, July 15, 2011

From the Desk of Prosperity’s Summer Intern, Rachel Bayless:


This week has been very productive in preparing the marketing of The Profitable Hobby Farm. I’ve gathered book excerpts, a press release, and related items that are going to go towards making my very first media kit. The Sarah Beth Aubrey Facebook page (www.facebook.com/sarahbethaubrey) is being used as a book page for The Profitable Hobby Farm and Starting and Running Your Own Small Farm Business

After about another week, I will be getting started on contacting businesses and hopefully selling some books. The publishers are not easy to get in touch with. But I’m hoping to pull through and make this a successful project! I don’t want to be a flop at my major, sales and marketing.

Coming up in just a few weeks, the Indiana State Fair begins! I’m looking forward to going this year, after having a taste of the agriculture world. Our soybean friends at the Indiana Soybean Alliance are celebrating their “Year of the Soybean”. Check out this post by one of the ISA interns; take a shot at winning four tickets to this year’s fair. And once you’re at the fair, participate in the ISA’s soybean search, BEANGO (like Bingo, clever isn’t it!), to get some free fair food. And be sure to attend the Celebration of Agriculture event (August 17th) put on by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. They are announcing winners of their annual photo contest, and Sarah entered her picture “Hereford Haze” in the “On the Farm” category. 


"Hereford Haze" by Sarah Aubrey

Monday, July 11, 2011

From the Desk of Prosperity’s Summer Intern, Rachel Bayless:

Despite having Monday off for Independence Day, last week was a very full week. For me it was filled with researching grants for clients, modifying grant item checklists, and organizing my plans for marketing and selling Sarah’s book.

We’ve been getting our REAP materials organized. Another year done, it is time to update our client questionnaires and checklists and everything else to be prepared for another year of applications. We are cleaning up all of these items so that the process can be easier than even for next years’ clients. While all of our clients’ applications have long been submitted, we’re tying up loose ends and last-minute details to close our book on the 2011 Rural Energy for America Program grants.

This week another newsletter will be going out. It will contain some upcoming grants, events, and a recap on the REAP grants. We also will have an article of this month’s advisory board member spotlight. If you are interested in being added to the mailing list, please contact us.


Friday, July 1, 2011

From the Desk of Prosperity’s Summer Intern, Rachel Bayless:


This Wednesday we attended Greater Indiana Clean Cities’ Alternative Fuel and Related Technology “Day at the Track”.   It was a nice day, and there was a good turnout. Some speakers talked about the alternative fuels that cars will eventually be using more prominently. There was a "Ride 'n' Drive" event, where electric cars were available to drive and hybrid school buses were there to ride in. We didn't get a chance to participate in that. But it was a nice event anyway! 




My book project is currently underway! I have written a marketing plan, which was something I didn’t know how to do before. But that is Erin’s area of expertise, and she guided me through it. For the next week I will be getting together a media kit and some contact information and wholesale prices and serious information to approach my prospects with! I’m looking forward to getting started on the sales. Hopefully I won’t face too many rejections. This internship is giving me a lot of experiences that I know I will be using in my career in the future. Wish me luck on a successful project. And I wouldn’t be any kind of a sales person if I didn’t provide you with link to Sarah’s books.


We will be closed this afternoon and Monday. From all of us at Prosperity, have a lovely Independence Day weekend!



Friday, June 24, 2011

From the Desk Prosperity’s Summer Intern, Rachel Bayless:


Well, this week has been fun-filled. A new component was added to the REAP Grant application, a CCR registration. All of our clients who thought they were done received brand new phone calls asking for more information. The USDA is keeping us on our toes! While it isn’t a fun process, it is necessary. And it is giving me a lot of time on the phone. Once you’ve talked through the registration a few times it doesn’t seem so bad. Although I spend my weekdays on a computer all day long, and the applicants have other things on their plate, like a farm! But I’m happy that clients are finally calling with questions that I am able to answer! It makes me feel useful.

This week the application for certification to become a Women’s Business Enterprise was mailed. I have been working on that since I got here (over a month ago!). The application requires quite a bit of documentation, and it has been so busy in this office that the process was put on hold a little for us. But hopefully I didn’t forget any documents and Prosperity can officially become a “Women’s Business Enterprise”.  Sarah is also looking to become a member of the National Speakers Association. We must provide documentation for 20 speaking events in the past 12 months. Those will also take some time to get together. But becoming a member of NSA, Sarah will have the opportunity to do a lot of networking and broaden her speaking horizons.

I have also begun working on a marketing plan for Sarah Aubrey’s books. Even though marketing is part of my major at Purdue, this is my first time delving into a marketing experience. Since I have never made a marketing plan before, I’m going to be using Erin’s (our marketing and communications coordinator) expertise to clean it up. I will keep you updated on the progress of book sales. I will be working towards having the book sold at Indiana wineries, farm supply stores, local bookstores, and any other venues where people would express an interest in her books.

Next week, as an office, we will be attending Alternative Fuel and Related Technology “Day at the Track”. At this time I do not know too much about the event. But we may have the opportunity to drive an electric car at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and meet lots of people. Next week be waiting to read more about our experience there, and I will include some pictures!

Photo by Jared Coppess

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

PROSPERITY REACHES FINISH LINE FOR 2011 REAP PROGRAM

MONROVIA, Ind. – June 15, 2011 – USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) FY 2011 construction application submission period is now closed and Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources (Prosperity) has submitted all applications to USDA. This year Prosperity submitted 66 70 grants in ten states for 2011 funding consideration through this popular program. The energy savings across all projects will yield 41.6% in 2011. In less than four years, Prosperity has secured grants for clients in more than 30 states totaling $50 million; REAP grant applications this year request greater than $2,486,493.22 funding for clients.

Notifications of awards are expected to be announced by late September. Prosperity writes and submits grants annually for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy projects. The REAP Program funding is authorized through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). REAP funding can be used for renewable energy projects, energy efficient improvements, energy audits, feasibility studies and renewable energy development assistance. Information on the REAP program can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_ReapResEei.html

Prosperity Ag and Energy Resources began in 2007 and is a full-service, funding-opportunities development firm. Prosperity focuses on grant writing, guaranteed loans and general grant administration, working closely with state and federal contacts to strengthen communities, empower entrepreneurs, and foster growth of farms and businesses.