Arla’s Sewing Room in Lansing completes 2025 REAP grant project
Completes REAP grant project ... Arla Wagner, owner-operator of Arla’s Sewing Room in Lansing, is pictured above with Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Manager Steve Hopkins. Her two new air-source heat pump units, also used to cool the storefront, appear mounted high on the wall near the top of the photo above, with the outdoor unit of the system is pictured below. Submitted photos.
Arla’s Sewing Room in Lansing is a 2025 recipient of a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to improve energy efficiency in its downtown storefront on Main Street.
Owner-operator Arla Wagner worked with Clean Energy Districts of Iowa’s (CEDI’s) technical assistance to successfully apply to the U.S. Department of Agriculture REAP program for a $2,221 grant and completed the project in late June, installing two electric air-source heat pumps (mini-splits) to improve the building’s heating and cooling efficiency. Project assessments estimate the new units will save Wagner’s business 1,718 kWh or $240 per year.
“I’m very happy with the whole process and the results. I love them!” Wagner says of the heat pumps. “The CEDI team ironed out the details of my application and saw it through - not an easy feat in a year with so many changes to federal programming.”
CEDI can help farms or small businesses in rural areas apply for USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. REAP was established to provide two forms of financing: guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for Renewable Energy Systems (RES) or to make Energy Efficiency Improvements (EEI).
CEDI has been granted USDA funds to provide priority assistance to customers and communities traditionally underserved by the REAP program, as well as applicants with certain types of projects. These include customers in federally identified disadvantaged communities and distressed communities, and those with smaller projects and pursuing underutilized technologies.
The Clean Energy Districts of Iowa (CEDI) is a nonprofit consortium of Energy Districts based in 14 counties across Iowa, including Allamakee County. CEDI’s mission is to support clean energy transition in its member districts by supporting their individual initiatives; advocating for state-level energy policy that facilitates fair and just rate-making and energy infrastructure; and by providing free or low-cost technical assistance to districts and individual businesses, municipalities, and organizations in accessing state and federal funding.
For more information on CEDI technical assistance for REAP grants or loans, visit cleanenergydistricts.org/reap.
