Applications announced as open by Maine DOER. Due November 3, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. Applicant-specific award terms and complete requirements must be checked in controlling RFA #202609150.
Maine 2026 ACRE Rural Business Clean Energy Grants — RFA 202609150 (November 3; Individual Awards Not Yet Verified)
Maine's 2026 ACRE RFA #202609150 offers grant and technical assistance for eligible small rural businesses to lower energy costs. Applications due November 3, 2026 at 4 p.m. The $950,000 is the combined program pool, not an individual applicant award. The individual award ceiling and other detailed terms must be checked in the controlling RFA.
Funding$950,000 total ACRE funding pool across grants and technical assistance, NOT an individual applicant award. The individual applicant funding minimum/maximum is not verified: read the controlling RFA #202609150 before reporting one. Match and payment terms unverified.
DeadlineTuesday, November 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (official Maine DOER/DACF announcement; no explicit time zone abbreviation in agency announcement).
Last verified2026-10-31
Required next actionFind RFA #202609150 in Maine's Vendor Self Service (VSS) system. Download the full Request for Applications and any updates; determine the exact business size, rural location, industry and project eligibility, individual award limits, cost share and payment requirements. Prepare the application and submit through VSS to the Maine Office of State Procurement Services by November 3, 2026, 4:00 p.m. Confirm VSS registration and vendor account requirements.
Broad Eligibility
Maine small rural businesses in sectors named by Maine's Ten-Year Economic Development Strategy are encouraged to apply. Exact SBA small-business tests, rural geography/size tests, entity restrictions, required match and related RFA eligibility details remain unverified; do not assume nonprofit or governmental applicants qualify.
Atlas Analysis
2026-10-31: Verified Maine DOER Opportunities page and October 5, 2026 Maine DACF official funding announcement for 2026 Affordable and Clean Energy for Rural Enterprises ACRE, RFA #202609150. State explicitly calls it grants and technical assistance, via state VSS grant RFA system; not merely an ordinary government vendor procurement. Statewide $950,000 is overall program pool, not applicant award. Official sources describe energy audits/assessments/scoping/funding navigation and eligible clean-energy equipment/installation for Maine small rural businesses. Application deadline November 3, 2026 at 4 p.m.; agency does not specify time-zone abbreviation. Full controlling RFA and portal attachments located within VSS were not independently accessible this run. Individual award ceiling, match, allowable/disallowed expenses, eligibility and submission documents NOT fully verified. Distinct fresh all-status post title/content/source and identifier search found no corresponding ACRE grant before create. NO protected approval until controlling RFA is read, verified, and additional duplicate review completed; keep pending. Sources: https://www.maine.gov/energy/opportunities ; https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MEDACF/bulletins/42d6e97 .
Affordable and Clean Energy for Rural Enterprises (ACRE) — 2026 Maine Grant
The Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER), in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, invites small rural businesses in Maine to apply for the Affordable and Clean Energy for Rural Enterprises (ACRE) program. It provides financial assistance and technical assistance to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and support eligible clean-energy measures. The issuing agencies expressly describe this as a grant funding opportunity, although responses are submitted through the state Vendor Self Service system.
Funding and Applicant Eligibility
The agencies announce $950,000 in total grant and technical-assistance program funding. This is an overall program allocation, not an individual applicant award. An individual business award minimum, maximum or range is not independently verified; do not interpret the $950,000 total as funding available to one applicant. The announcement encourages small rural Maine businesses working in sectors identified in Maine’s Ten-Year Economic Development Strategy. Precise size and geographic tests, potential nonprofit eligibility, matching funds and award-payment conditions require review of the controlling RFA.
Fundable Activities
The official announcement identifies two forms of assistance: (1) technical assistance, including energy audits, energy assessments, project scoping and help navigating funding; and (2) project funding for eligible energy-related equipment and installation costs. Specific award ceilings, eligible technologies, excluded expenses, insurance requirements and any cost-sharing terms must be confirmed against the complete RFA and attachments before grant approval.
Deadline and Application
Applications are due Tuesday, November 3, 2026, by 4:00 p.m., as stated by DOER. The agency announcement does not explicitly give a time-zone abbreviation. Search for RFA #202609150 in Maine’s Vendor Self Service (VSS) portal, retrieve the controlling Request for Applications and any amendments, and submit the application through VSS to the Office of State Procurement Services. Submission requires applicable VSS registration and account access.
Additional Application Details
The controlling RFA and attachments specify applicant-specific award limits, full eligibility, cost share, eligible and prohibited expenses, reimbursement or advance payment terms, and supporting documents. These details have not yet been independently verified here. Applicants should retrieve and review RFA #202609150 and current amendments in VSS before submitting.
Official funder sources: Maine Department of Energy Resources — Opportunities and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry — October 5, 2026 announcement.
Source verificationOfficial government source · www.maine.govAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-31. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
