Due to the popularity of the Growing Forward 2 On-Farm Energy Management Program, recent changes were made allowing it to be a year-round program.
Previously, the program closed down for three months every year before starting up again, but the program was changed in January to make it a year-round program, said Jason Price, program manager with the growing forward 2 program.
“There were a couple of unfortunate cases where people bought (project supplies) before hearing about the program but it seems like most people had heard about the program so we haven't seen a noticeable uptick in applications since we did that,” said Price.
However, 300 applications were approved from April 1, 2013 to now.
That surge in interest in the program, which helps farmers pay for energy-efficient improvements on the farm, convinced program administrators to make it a year-round initiative.
“The gap that we used to have would confuse people. They weren't sure if we were open or closed and if we were taking applications or not,” he said.
Another change that was made to the program was that farmers can buy project materials and apply at a later date, and if the project meets the program's criteria they can get up to 50 per cent of costs funded through the program, which is funded 40 per cent by the provincial government and 60 per cent by the federal government.
Price said it still is in the best interest of applicants to apply to the program first before going ahead with a project to make sure it meets the eligibility requirements. Projects up to $50,000 may be considered. The program runs until March 31, 2018.
Price said the program was changed to make it more applicant-friendly after hearing from those applicants.
“A lot of it was feedback from our applicants. We were hearing that it was confusing to be open sometimes, then closed sometimes. If people were ready to go with a project, then they didn't want to wait around (so) we came out with new program rules and application forms,” he said.
More information about the program may be obtained by going to www.growingforward.alberta.ca or by calling 310-3276.
"We were hearing that it was confusing to be open sometimes, then closed sometimes."Jason Price, program managerGrowing Forward 2 program
