Department of Agriculture Announces Funding for School Agriculture Departments

The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is now accepting purposes for the Missouri Agriculture Energy Saving Team – a Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO) grant, funded by way of the U.S. Department of Energy. The MAESTRO grant was created to assist small farming operations throughout Missouri scale back power use. Funding will likely be used to help Ok-12 faculty districts with agriculture packages. Applications have to be submitted by Sept. 1, 2022. The Department will contemplate grant awards as much as a most of $10,000 for a selected faculty.

“Becoming more energy efficient is a priority for the Missouri agriculture industry,” stated Director of Agriculture Chris Chinn. “The MAESTRO grant provides a great opportunity for agriculture students to learn the importance of energy efficiency and implement change in their schools and communities.”

The grant gives funding to handle explicit energy-related points in class outlets and greenhouses and on faculty farms. The aim of the grant is to make sure priceless energy-efficient upgrades are being made in Missouri Ok-12 faculty districts. Students, and their instructors, can use funding to create a piece plan that addresses energy-related points, then execute the work plan underneath an teacher’s supervision. Funds could also be used to pay material specialists to conduct power audits or practice college students, buy provides, or pay for labor required to hold out the work plan.

Cash or in-kind matching contributions usually are not required.

Allowable bills embody, however usually are not restricted to, the next:

Equipment, provides and supplies wanted to extend power effectivity in class agriculture outlets, greenhouses or different agriculture amenities

Training and academic workshops

Contracting a company to teach, practice and help college students in conducting power audits

Materials wanted to conduct power audit

Insulation (together with labor wanted to put in insulation) in agriculture amenities

Rehabilitating an getting old greenhouse to be extra power environment friendly

Heating, air flow and air-con (HVAC) updates to agriculture amenities

Upgrading lighting in agriculture amenities to be extra power environment friendly

Costs reminiscent of present agriculture facility enlargement, new development, employees or college wage supplementation and scholar cost usually are not allowed.

Proposals for the grant funding have to be submitted to the Department by Sept. 1, 2022 at 3 p.m.

The utility type and extra particulars can be found on-line at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.

For extra details about the Missouri Department of Agriculture and its packages, go to the Department on-line at Agriculture.Mo.Gov.