Details About the Town-Managed Grant

The Acton Select Board approved funds from the Town's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to help create the Acton Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program. (ABEEG). ABEEG will provide limited financial assistance to eligible businesses and eligible owners of multi-family properties in Acton to help mitigate the financial impacts of improving the energy efficiency of their physical location. ABEEG will provide business owners with grants up to a maximum of $2,000 in the form of a reimbursement.

The application and grant process is designed to be simple and streamlined. The process requires an application, explanation of how the funds will be used and copies of required documents. The application submission period begins on February 1, 2023 and ends on October 20, 2024 or when funds are exhausted. Grant award will be announced on a rolling basis through October 2024.

Grants are provided on a reimbursement basis for approved expenses incurred during the period of February 1, 2023 through October 31 2024.

Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible:

1. Be an Acton business with a brick-and-mortar (physical) location.
2. Self-certify that the business has less than $1,500,000 in annual net revenue.
3. Be registered with and operating in the Town of Acton (excluding chains but franchises allowed; franchise being defined as a business whereby the owner licenses its operations-along with its products, branding, and knowledge-in exchange for a franchise fee).
4. Be current on their local taxes.

Energy Efficiency Grant Requirements

To apply for the program, business owners and property owners must be current on their taxes with the Town of Acton and provide the following:

• Grant Program Application
• Proof of Acton business address
• If seeking reimbursement for lightning and building envelope improvements provide a copy of energy efficiency audit completed by a Mass Save vendor (to schedule an audit contact Mass Save here) here)
• If seeking reimbursement for a heat pump installation, you must provide a quote from a participating contractor in the Mass Save Heat Pump Installer Network (find an installer here); in order to qualify for the program a business must be replacing natural gas, oil, propane, or electric resistance systems, in line with the current Mass Save rebate program. The quote must note the heating system being displaced.
• Self-certification of Net Gross Revenue

Once accepted into the program, Business Owners must:

• If seeking reimbursement for lightning and building envelope improvements: provide an invoice that details the work performed, in line with the energy efficiency audit completed by a Mass Save vendor.
• If seeking reimbursement for a heat pump installation: provide proof of payment of the approved quote of the work completed by a Mass Save vendor.
• Complete the reimbursement request form by October 31, 2024 along with copies of paid receipts, including image of front and back of cleared payment (if paid by check) or proof of credit card statement, and send to Andrea Becerra at sustainability@actonma.gov
• Reimbursement checks will be distributed to grant recipients within 45 days of approved reimbursement request.
• Only submit items for reimbursement that are not paid for by or reimbursed by another source or entity.
• Only submit items for reimbursement that were recommended as part of the Mass Save Energy Audit.
• Record a video with ActonTV highlighting the energy upgrades completed by the business and/or a written narrative of the experience to share on the Town website and social media.

Energy Efficiency Grant Program Process

1. Business or Property Owners apply to be accepted as grant recipients in the program by providing the required documents listed above.
2. Business or Property Owners will contact Mass Save and undergo their energy audit and manage the energy efficiency upgrades (building envelope improvements, lighting upgrades, and/or heat pump installation on their own).
3. Businesses can seek additional support from the Sustainability Office (sustainability@actonma.gov; 978-929-6515), through the Clean Energy Coaching Program along the way (click here to learn more).
4. Business or Property Owners will select the energy savings measures they want to implement from the Mass Save Energy Audit recommendations.
5. Business or Property Owners will choose vendors and implement their chosen measures from the Mass Save Energy Audit recommendations.
6. Business or Property Owners will submit receipts and reimbursement form to receive reimbursement for up to $2,000 of the cost of the implementation of their chosen measures
7. Business or Property Owners record their experience on ActonTV and/or write a narrative on the experience .

ABEEG Deadline Extended to October 20, 2024!

Click here to read the Action Unlimited article on Acton's Business Energy Efficiency Program!