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RISE PA Grant Applications Now Open for Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers

Pennsylvania small and medium-sized manufacturers now have access to a new funding opportunity through the RISE PA program, or Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania. This competitive grant program helps eligible manufacturers reduce energy use, lower emissions, and improve sustainability through targeted project funding.

Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants, the RISE PA initiative is designed to support manufacturing plant energy efficiency projects, industrial emissions reduction, and clean energy transitions across the state.

Eligible Industrial Projects Include:

  • Industrial electrification

  • Upgrades to increase energy efficiency and reduce process emissions

  • Switching to low-carbon or renewable fuels

  • On-site solar or other renewable energy systems

  • Carbon capture and storage technologies

  • Reducing methane or fugitive emissions from natural gas, oil, or coal operations

Who Can Apply:

  • Pennsylvania-based small to mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs)

  • Fewer than 500 employees at the manufacturing plant site or within the company

  • Projects with total costs between $50,000 and $1 million

  • Facilities with active manufacturing processes on-site

A qualifying energy assessment must be completed before applying.

Grant Details: The base grant covers up to 50% of total project costs, with awards up to $500,000.

The small to mid-sized manufacturers application program of RISE PA is being administered by PennTAP, and is working with partners such as Catalyst Connection and DEP’s Energy Office to support small business energy upgrades and industrial decarbonization efforts statewide.

Program Guide:
Download the RISE PA Small-Scale Award Track Guidance (PDF)

Apply or learn more about RISE PA for manufacturers:
https://penntap.psu.edu/grants-and-rebates/rise-pa

RISE PA: A $396 Million Grant Program to Reduce Industrial Emissions in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is excited to announce the launch of the Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) program. This $396 million industrial decarbonization grant initiative aims to significantly reduce emissions from Pennsylvania’s industrial sector by funding innovative decarbonization projects at facilities across the Commonwealth.

Program Goals and Eligible Projects

RISE PA seeks to achieve substantial emission reductions by supporting projects that deploy one or more of the following technologies:

  • Energy efficiency
  • Electrification
  • Industrial process emissions reduction
  • Fuel switching to low-carbon fuels
  • On-site renewable energy generation
  • Carbon capture, utilization, and storage
  • Fugitive emissions reduction
  • Other technologies that reduce industrial emissions, as determined by RISE PA
Eligible projects must demonstrate a facility-wide emission reduction of at least 20 percent.

Funding Details

RISE PA is now accepting applications for medium- and large-scale projects:
  • Medium-scale projects: Awards ranging from $300,000 to $20,000,000
  • Large-scale projects: Awards ranging from $20,000,001 to $110,000,000
The base grant award will cover 30 percent of the total project cost, with applicants required to provide a 70 percent cost share. Additionally, projects that meet specific criteria can qualify for bonus awards, each worth up to 10 percent of the total project cost:
  • Community Benefits Bonus: For projects benefiting impacted communities
  • Fair Labor Bonus: For projects supporting high-quality jobs
  • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Bonus: For projects maximizing emissions reductions

Application Process

Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact DEP for a Pre-Application meeting and use the Permit Application Consulting Tool to determine the necessary permits for their projects. Detailed Program Guidance is available on the RISE PA webpage.

Deadline

The application deadline is August 29, 2025, at 11:59 pm. As a second funding opportunity is not guaranteed, interested applicants are urged to submit their applications by the deadline.

Jeremy Hancher is the EMAP Program Manager located at the Widener University SBDC.  He holds over 15 years of experience in environmental compliance, environmental policy, and program management.  He is proud to be the team lead of the award-winning EMAP program which provides free and confidential environmental assistance to the Pennsylvania small business community in fulfillment of the requirements of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act and Section 507 of the federal Clean Air Act.
In 2015, Jeremy was part of the team effort when EMAP was recognized by US EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for Outstanding Accomplishments by a State Small Business Environmental Assistance Provider in Providing Technical Environmental Assistance to the Small Business Community. Jeremy holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate from the Wharton School.