Department of Ag Announces Funding for School Agriculture Departments
The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced they are now accepting applications for the Missouri Agriculture Energy Saving Team – a Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO) grant, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy.
The MAESTRO grant was created to help small farming operations across Missouri reduce energy use. Funding will be used to assist K-12 school districts with agriculture programs. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 1, 2022. The Department will grant awards up to a maximum of $10,000 per approved school.
The grant provides funding to address particular energy-related issues in school shops and greenhouses and on school farms. The goal of the grant is to ensure valuable energy-efficient upgrades are being made in Missouri K-12 school districts.
Students, and their instructors, can use funding to create a work plan that addresses energy-related issues, then execute the work plan under an instructor’s supervision.
Funds may be used to pay subject matter experts to conduct energy audits or train students, purchase supplies, or pay for labor required to carry out the work plan.
Cash or in-kind matching contributions are not required.
Proposals for the grant funding must be submitted to the Department by Sept. 1, 2022 at 3 p.m.
The application form and additional details are available online at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.
Allowable expenses include, but are not limited to, the following:
Equipment, supplies and materials needed to increase energy efficiency in school agriculture shops, greenhouses or other agriculture facilities
Training and educational workshops
Contracting an organization to educate, train and assist students in conducting energy audits
Materials needed to conduct energy audit
Insulation (including labor needed to install insulation) in agriculture facilities
Rehabilitating an aging greenhouse to be more energy efficient
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) updates to agriculture facilities
Upgrading lighting in agriculture facilities to be more energy efficient
Costs such as current agriculture facility expansion, new construction, staff or faculty wage supplementation and student payment are not allowed.
