Comment on FR Doc # 2011-08460

Document ID: RBS-11-BUSINESS-0009-0004
Document Type: Public Submission
Agency: Rural Business-Cooperative Service
Received Date: May 10 2011, at 05:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Date Posted: June 13 2011, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Start Date: April 14 2011, at 12:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Comment Due Date: June 13 2011, at 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time
Tracking Number: 80c6bd28
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This is comment on Rule

Rural Energy for America Program

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I help small rural farmers and rural businesses with REAP grants as part of our solar thermal project. The REAP application process is quite complicated for the average small business. The requirement for the CCR registration will create a hurdle as many of the farmers and small business people are not computer literate, or will find the process too complicated. Our total project size is usually less than $20,000 and I suggest that projects less than $50,000 be exempted from the CCR requirements. In Washington State, there are not many applicants for less than $20,000 projects, and after completing the applications for them, I know why. That said, the USDA offices have been absolutely fantastic in support of the applicants, I just hope we can streamline the process. Farmers like to farm, they are not IT guru's. Cheers Ray