RISE PA — Small Award Track (SAT) for Small Manufacturers
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) / PennTAP (Penn State)
Up to $500,000 (50% cost-share)
Clean energy grants for PA small manufacturers
Pennsylvania's RISE PA Small Award Track gives manufacturers with under 500 employees grants covering 50% of project costs (up to $500,000) to reduce industrial emissions — through electrification, energy efficiency, fuel switching, on-site renewables, or carbon capture. Round 4 is open through August 17, 2026. Three rounds per year through 2029, with $40M total available. PennTAP provides a free technical site assessment to every applicant before they apply.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $25,000 – $500,000
- Realistic amount
- Typical awards range from $75,000 to $300,000 based on project scope. Most small manufacturers implement energy efficien…
- Deadline
- Round 4 open through August 17, 2026; further rounds planned through 2029
- Status
- active
- States
- PA
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Manufacturing entity: facility must engage in mechanical, physical, or chemical transformation of materials into new products (NAICS 31-33)
- Fewer than 500 employees at the facility
- Project total cost between $50,000 and $1,000,000
- Must have an active Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and current System for Award Management (SAM.gov) registration
- Must obtain a Technical Assessment Report from a PennTAP-approved partner prior to application (no-cost to applicant)
- Project must demonstrably reduce industrial emissions (electrification, efficiency, fuel switching, renewables, carbon capture, or fugitive emissions reduction)
Hard requirements
- Must be incorporated
- Location restriction: Pennsylvania manufacturing facility
- Restricted to industry: manufacturing (NAICS 31-33)
- Max 500 employees
- Minimum project size: $50,000
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Industrial electrification: electric heating, motors, compressed air, EV chargers for fleet
- Energy efficiency upgrades: LED lighting, insulation, HVAC optimization, variable-frequency drives
- Process efficiency improvements to reduce energy consumption per unit of output
- Fuel switching from natural gas/oil/coal to lower-carbon alternatives
- On-site renewable energy installation (solar PV, small wind)
- Carbon capture and storage systems
- Fugitive emissions control equipment (natural gas leak detection and repair equipment)
- Technical documentation and engineering costs directly tied to eligible project scope
Ineligible expenses
- Projects with total cost below $50,000 or above $1,000,000
- Operating expenses (energy bills, maintenance, consumables)
- Costs incurred before award notification
- Construction labor that does not comply with Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements
- Administrative or general overhead
- Emissions reduction projects unrelated to industrial operations (e.g., office lighting only)
How to apply
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1
Register UEI and SAM.gov (if not already active)
Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov and ensure registration is active. Allow 2–4 weeks for initial SAM registration. This is a federal requirement for receiving state-administered DOE-funded grants.
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2
Schedule free Technical Assessment with PennTAP
Contact PennTAP (penntap@psu.edu or 814-865-0427) to schedule a free site assessment. PennTAP engineers visit your facility, identify qualifying emission-reduction projects, and provide a Technical Assessment Report. Scheduling takes approximately 4–8 weeks — start this FIRST.
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3
Identify project and gather vendor quotes
Using the Technical Assessment Report, select the specific project (e.g., switch to electric heating, install LED + motion controls, add solar). Get 1–3 vendor quotes for itemized project costs. Build a detailed budget form.
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4
Prepare application materials
Complete the RISE PA SAT application form, Detailed Budget Form, GHG Emissions Calculator (baseline and projected savings), and collect 12 months of utility bills and equipment technical specifications.
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5
Submit before deadline and await award
Submit complete application package by the round deadline (August 17, 2026 for Round 4). PennTAP reviews for eligibility; DEP makes award decisions. Davis-Bacon prevailing wage and 15% apprentice labor requirements apply to construction/installation work after award.
Industry & certifications
NAICS codes: 31, 32, 33
Start with the free PennTAP site assessment ASAP — it takes 4-8 weeks to schedule and is required before you can apply. Don't wait until close to the deadline.
Deadline & timing
Round 4 deadline is August 17, 2026. Three rounds expected per year through 2029 (total $40M). Round 5 anticipated to open in fall 2026. Contact PennTAP at PennTAP_RISEPA@psu.edu to get on the notification list.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.