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Helping Businesses Finance Energy-Efficient Improvements

The Business Energy Retrofit (BER) grants are funded by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation and administered through a partnership with Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) to assist business owners with energy-efficient improvements.

 

Eligibility

The BER FY25 Program is available to small business owners located within Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation’s service area, which consists of all of Lake and Cook Counties, most of St. Louis County and Itasca County, and portions of Koochiching, Aitkin, and Crow Wing Counties.

Service Area Map

 

How it Works

The BER program will support and provide the business up to $20,000 in eligible retrofit expenses or 1/3 of the total project up to $60,000. A $500.00 application fee will be required to participate in this program at the initial inspection and processed at the time of project closing.

 

Eligible Items
  • Lighting & Fixture Upgrades, Insulation, & Ventilation
  • Renewable Energy-Solar/Wind Equipment Appliances
  • Roofing (1/3 up to $10k) Window & Door Replacement
  • Thermal Boundary Upgrades Air Sealing Fuel Conversion
  • Any items being upgraded to save energy

 

BER Program Application Guidelines (FY25)
  • 100 employees or less at the specific place of business
  • Accepted current prevailing wage compliant bids are due with the application submission if the business is ready to start, and projects must be started within 30 days of application approval
  • Bids must be current when submitted with the application & release

 

How to Apply

Complete the application below, and we will contact you.

 

Apply

***THE FIRST ROUND BER FY26 APPLICATION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 1ST. WE ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES TO APPLY AT ANYTIME FOR A CHANCE TO RECEIVE A BER GRANT. THERE IS ZERO RISK. THE NEXT APPLICATION REVIEW WILL BE HELD IN 2-3 MONTHS. WORK CANNOT BEGIN PRIOR TO APPROVAL AND SITE INSPECTION***

 

 

This is a grant opportunity, not a loan, provided by the Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) and administered by the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Inc. (AEOA). Grant payments are made directly to the awarded Contractor or Vendor upon completion and final inspection.