Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) Grant Program

The Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) Small Award Track (SAT) Grant Program is a competitive funding initiative under the broader $396 million RISE PA program, which is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. The SAT program, administered by the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State, targets small-scale industrial decarbonization projects within Pennsylvania. Round 3 of this program offers up to $40 million to support projects that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and co-pollutant emissions by investing in emissions reduction equipment and energy efficiency upgrades at qualifying manufacturing sites. The program aims not only to reduce the environmental impact of industrial operations but also to stimulate economic activity in Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector by fostering job creation and long-term career opportunities. To be eligible, a site must host active manufacturing processes and have fewer than 500 full-time employees. The SAT program is a reimbursement-based grant, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. Applicants may qualify for an additional 10–20% in bonus funding based on meeting community benefit and fair labor criteria. Round 3 applications opened on January 15, 2026, and must be submitted by April 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM EDT. All submissions must be made through Penn State's InfoReady platform using a non-Penn State user account. Submissions via any other channel will not be accepted. Required application materials include 12 months of utility bills, project quotes identifying eligible costs, a detailed budget form, equipment specifications, a Technical Assessment Report, GHG emissions data using EPA’s Simplified Calculator, and letters demonstrating financial commitment to the full project cost. A complete application also requires a valid UEI and Penn State supplier registration. Submitted projects undergo a three-phase review: administrative (for application completeness), technical (assessing alignment with emissions and energy goals), and selection (evaluating cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, and project viability). Awards for this round will be announced in July or August 2026. Selected applicants will sign a non-negotiable Sub-award Grant Agreement and must complete projects within 12 months of execution. Reimbursement will follow project implementation and documentation, including submission of zero-balance invoices and operability verification. Applicants must also comply with Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, the Build America Buy America Act, and RISE PA apprenticeship mandates or seek exemption. Post-implementation obligations include submitting MMV data 13 months after completion and a final report via InfoReady. Technical support is available through [email protected]. Round 3 is one of multiple anticipated SAT cycles, with prior rounds closing in August and December of 2025. It is important to note that while the Small-scale Award Track will continue offering multiple funding rounds, all available funding for the Medium- and Large-scale Award Tracks was awarded in a single round. Applications for those tracks were reviewed following the final application deadline of September 5, 2025.