Grants made available to rural communities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of $21.9 million to help rural communities cope with high energy costs.

The deadline for applying for grants under the program is Oct. 1.

The grants can be used to help rural residents and businesses upgrade energy infrastructure and make other energy-efficiency improvements. Funds may be used to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade or otherwise improve energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average.

Details are available at www.usda.gov/rus/electric and at Grants.gov under Code of Domestic Federal Assistance Number 10.859.