U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and USDA Rural Development ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì State Director Lucas Ingvoldstad announced in late July 2024 an , an industrial extension program of the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì, Reno.
This Rural Development investment addresses a need in ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì from rural small businesses and agricultural producers for technical assistance to successfully apply for federal REAP assistance necessary to fund the installation and implementation of renewable energy systems, as well as wind and geothermal energy being underutilized renewable energy technologies in ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì. With these funds, Manufacture ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì will aim to connect and resolve these issues, assisting at least 13 agricultural producers or rural small businesses to apply for assistance under REAP for Energy Efficiency Improvements, or Renewable Energy Systems while informing them how to improve or deploy those improvements and systems, also increasing REAP awareness. 
This exciting USDA investment helps continue promoting and supporting small and medium-sized manufacturers in ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì.