REM Program Offers Grants for Green Practices

The Recycling Expansion and Modernization (REM) Program helps Illinois businesses and organizations become green or greener with matching grants. The REM Program may be of special interest to Illinois small businesses as approximately 40% of all REM projects have been conducted by small businesses, receiving over $3 million in grant awards.

The REM Program provides funding for projects that involve:
· Improving an organization’s solid waste management practices through source reduction and waste reduction, including recycling and reuse activities

· Improving product packaging practices to reduce waste
· Modernizing and expanding a business that manufactures recycled content products
· Demonstrating the use of recycled content products in LEED-certified green building projects

Use of grant funds: REM grant funds can be used to offset the cost of the purchase of capital equipment and consultant services, or the cost of recycled content products in green building construction projects.

Matching fund requirement: Grantees must provide 25% of total project costs, in cash.
Grant amounts: Projects may be approved for up to $30K for REM Assessment projects (consultant activities), $75K for Procurement/Demonstration projects (recycled content products in green building projects), $150K for Technology/Demonstration projects (consultant and equipment costs), and up to $250K for Implementation projects (capital equipment).

Eligibility: The REM Program is available to businesses, not-for-profits, government, colleges and universities, who propose eligible projects. Please note that the REM Program does not fund projects involving materials classified as special or hazardous.

For more information you can contact Mike Motor, REM Program Manager, by telephone at 217.524.0933, and by email at Michael.motor@illinois.gov. You can also find REM Program information at www.Illinoisrecycles.com. Finally, the following link provides REM Program information.

www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Energy_Recycling/Recycling/Grants/REM_Program.htm