US: LED manufacturer flooded with inquiries for USDA grant money

Less than two weeks into Illumitex’s partnership with USDA to secure portions of the federal agency’s $50M grant program for its customers, the Austin-based LED grow light manufacturer has heard from dozens of greenhouse growers and many vertical farms wanting to apply for the program.

Controlled environment farmers around the country are thrilled at the prospect of saving up to 25% on their LED lights and installation under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s REAP fund.

The fund, called Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), provides grants to agricultural entities in both rural and urban settings that implement energy-efficiency improvements or a renewable energy system. This can be in a greenhouse, a vertical farm or another facility involved in agriculture.

Illumitex has partnered with the USDA to ensure the company’s energy-efficient lights qualify for the program, and hired grant-writing experts to help customers navigate the process.

Announced to the public less than two weeks ago, the program has generated an enormous response from innovative growers — some looking to expand, others interested in building new indoor farms and wanting to equip them with Illumitex LED lights renowned for their color mixing ability and energy efficiency.

“We’ve been flooded with inquiries,” says Illumitex VP of Hortitecture™ Lighting Solutions Paul Hardej. “Our grant writers are already hard at work, helping our customers secure these funds and realize their dreams of bringing fresh, local produce to consumers in their communities.”

The final day for submitting a grant proposal to the USDA for this cycle is October 31, 2015, and Illumitex expects to be busy making submittals right up to the deadline.