Energizing Rural Communities Prize

The submission deadline is 5pm ET today!

There is last minute help from Power Connectors available today:

1:30-3:30 pm ET with Clean Energy Business Network:  https://www.cebn.org/wp-content/uploads/ERC-Office-Hours-5.24.23.ics 

4:00-5:00 pm ET with Entrepreneur Futures Network:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/energizing-rural-communities-prize-office-hours-tickets-596025898507?aff=odcleoeventsincollection  

Power Connectors can provide feedback on your submission.

Good Luck!

There is just one week left to pull together your application for the Energizing Rural Communities Prize! 

We encourage you to leverage office hours from the Power Connectors, the teaming platform to find any other partners to add to your application, and reach out to us on the forum with any last-minute questions. 

We know there's been some confusion around the definition of the phases, so for clarity, we are including language from the FAQ below to define the current phase vs. what you're submitting in your Phase One application: 

We are currently in Phase One, which ends on May 24th, 2023.

• Phase Two begins once Phase One awards are announced. Exact dates TBA.
• Phase Two then runs for one year and ends with a final submission. Exact dates TBA.
• The prize concludes and Phase Two awards are announced. Exact dates TBA.

In Phase One you are proposing a plan. In Phase Two you are acting on that plan. At the end of Phase Two, teams that win $200k would then leverage their winnings to complete their clean energy demonstrations/implement their construction/finance projects.

Again, in your Phase One plans, your team should be addressing what activities you would pursue if you were to win the $100k Phase One award, however, some criterion also ask your team to think about what you would then pursue with the $200k Phase Two award (as it relates to future planning/goals). 

We encourage you to review the scoring criteria closely.

And finally, a primary goal of this prize is to build capacity for communities to access future sources of funding to make these projects sustainable. Here are a few opportunities, open now, that you may also want to consider as complementary to this prize: 

• DOE Energy in Rural and Remote Areas
• USDA Rural Utilities Service, Rural Energy for America & other USDA programs
• DOE Buildings Upgrade Prize

Good Luck!

The application period for Phase One closes on May 24, 2023!

Don't wait, we want to hear your idea!

As a reminder, be sure:

• To review the Official Rules Document here.
• To read the FAQ here. The FAQ is updated regularly.
• To ask questions on the forum here.
• To checkout the prize timeline here.
• To register for upcoming webinars here.

Templates for the PARTNER Track Partnership Plan and FINANCE Track Project Plan are available in the resources tab.

Past Webinar Recordings and Slides are also available in the resources tab.

Power Connector Office Hours and Webinars:

4/26/23 at 12:00-1:00pm ET: Energizing Rural Communities Prize: What It Is & How to Qualify Webinar
Register in advance for this webinar here.

5/8/23 at 12:00-1:00pm ET: Energizing Rural Communities Prize: What It Is & How to Qualify Webinar
Register in advance for this webinar here.

Now- 5/19/23, Book a 30-minute meeting with the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) to ask questions and/or get feedback on your application. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Sign up for a time slot.

Now- 5/24/23, Book a 30-minute meeting with the Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN) to ask questions and/or get feedback on your application. Sign up for a time slot. 

Available Recordings:

Energizing Rural Communities Prize Overview: This one hour webinar covered the basics of the prize. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.

PARTNER Track Webinar: This one hour webinar will dives into the PARTNER Track. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.

FINANCE Track Webinar, This one hour webinar will dives into the FINANCE Track. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.

Informational Prize Overview Webinars:

4/13/23 - 9:00am MT/11:00am ET, This one-hour webinar will provide additional networking opportunities with other competitors and breakout groups focused on individual tracks. Register here.

4/18/23 - 2:00pm MT/4:00pm ET, This one and a half hour webinar will focus on teaming practices and application preparation with time for Q&A. Register here.

Power Connector Office Hours:

3/22- 5/19/23, Book a 30-minute meeting with the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) to ask questions and/or get feedback on your application. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Sign up for a time slot.

3/30- 5/24/23, Book a 30-minute meeting with the Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN) to ask questions and/or get feedback on your application. Sign up for a time slot. 

Available Recordings:

Energizing Rural Communities Prize Overview: This one hour webinar covered the basics of the prize. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.

PARTNER Track Webinar: This one hour webinar will dives into the PARTNER Track. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.

FINANCE Track Webinar, This one hour webinar will dives into the FINANCE Track. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.

Questions:

Check the forum! 

Questions should be posted on the forum (someone else probably has your same question) unless it contains proprietary information. Questions that contain proprietary information can be sent to:  

Note: the forum and inbox are only monitored during business hours M-F in MST. 

Informational Prize Overview Webinars:

3/30/23 - 10:00am MT/12:00pm ET, This one-hour webinar will provide networking opportunities with other competitors and breakout groups focused on individual tracks. Register here.

4/5/23 - 2:00pm MT/4:00pm ET, This one hour webinar will dive deeper into the PARTNER Track. Register here.

4/6/23 - 11:00am MT/1:00pm ET, This one hour webinar will dive deeper into the FINANCE Track. Register here.

4/13/23 - 9:00am MT/11:00am ET, This one-hour webinar will provide additional networking opportunities with other competitors and breakout groups focused on individual tracks. Register here.

Power Connector Office Hours:

3/22- 5/19/23, Book a 30-minute meeting with the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) to ask questions and/or get feedback on your application. Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Sign up for a time slot.

3/30- 5/24/23, Book a 30-minute meeting with the Entrepreneur Futures Network (EFN) to ask questions and/or get feedback on your application. Sign up for a time slot. 

Available Recordings:

3/21/23 - 11:00am MT/1:00pm ET, This one hour webinar covered the basics of the prize. Watch the recording here and access the slides here.