Agency Contact Info
Olivia Doherty
phone: 602-771-1167
url: www.azcommerce.com
State Agencies
- Energy
- Broadband
Arizona Department of Commerce / Energy
Arizona Department of Commerce
The Energy Office at the Arizona Department of Commerce is receiving $129 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will be distributed in staggered amounts by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to the Energy Office and will be administered over a three-year period.
Three key programs for Energy under ARRA are Weatherization Assistance, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, and the State Energy Program. Additional programs include Energy Star Appliance Rebates and Energy Emergency Preparedness. Weekly updates are available on the Arizona Department of Commerce website.
Rural Economic Development Grant Program
Governor Brewer has authorized the utilization of State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) allocated from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to fund the Rural Economic Development Grant Program. This Rural Economic Development Grant Program is intended to support rural communities with limited budgets to initiate and support economic development through job growth and capital investment. Grants will provide local capacity-building financial assistance to cities, towns, counties, and tribal communities for economic development efforts. The program is designed to promote local self-sufficiency and provide direct assistance to rural communities to help attract new business development from other states and look for ways to retain and expand existing businesses. In addition, the program will encourage economic development in rural areas by providing rural organizations with matching funds to create jobs, manage community resources, and develop community marketing strategies that encourage capital investment and produce statewide benefits. The Grant program will utilize a competitive application process, with each application comprehensively analyzed by a committee.
Innovation Grant Program
The Innovation Grant Program is intended to foster the growth of such ventures in the state by bridging the financing gap between research and development and commercial launch of promising technology. $1.5 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds are available for grants ranging from $100,000 - $250,000, allowing a maximum of fifteen and minimum of six grants. Commercialization grants will be awarded to small (less than 30 employees), early-stage companies in Arizona’s targeted manufacturing export industries - renewable energy and sustainability, bio and life sciences, electronics, information technology, aerospace and defense, and advanced manufacturing. An applicant must demonstrate with a relatively modest investment they have the intellectual property to address an unmet need in the marketplace, and the ability to successfully commercialize a technology solution that will attract additional investment from equity investors, or grow the business organically through revenue generation. Applicants must propose a complete project plan to commercialize their technology solution no later than September 30, 2011. Preference will be given to applicants commercializing technology that originated in the State of Arizona, with a technology transfer, commercialization, or research entity, either public or private.
Weatherization Assistance Program
ARRA funding expands Arizona’s existing Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) with $57 million. This program provides weatherization services to Arizonans based on income. It has an established delivery network comprised of non-profit or governmental organizations that provide services in specific geographic areas of Arizona.
State Energy Program
The State Energy Program (SEP) is an existing program that will be expanded with $55.4 million in ARRA funding – focused on advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Arizona. The program will help Arizona schools and State government buildings install energy efficiency and add renewable energy – all designed to save taxpayers money through decreased energy costs and long-term energy savings.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program
While many larger metro areas received Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) funds directly from DOE, counties and communities with a population of less than 35,000 are now eligible for ARRA EECBG funds through “the Energy Office”. More than $9.5 million will be available to five Arizona counties and 68 communities to develop and implement projects aimed at improving energy efficiency and reducing energy use in their communities.
Appliance Rebate Program
On Monday, December 14, 2009 DOE gave final approval to award $6.2 million to “the Energy Office” to implement Arizona’s Appliance Rebate Program funded by ARRA. "The program" has one key objective: help consumers make the switch to Energy Star appliances. Energy Star is generally 15%-50% more energy efficient than appliances that are not Energy Star qualified.
Energy Emergency Preparedness
The Energy Emergency Preparedness Program is designed to ensure quick recovery and restoration from an energy supply disruption. The Energy Office was awarded $796,410 in ARRA funding to improve Arizona's emergency preparedness plans.
Follow these programs through weekly updates now available on the Arizona Department of Commerce website at www.azcommerce.com/recovery.
Associated Federal Agency(ies) and Links to Federal Agency Recovery Web Site
US Department of Energy