Allamakee County Business Completes 2025 REAP Grant Project

Arla’s Sewing Room in Lansing, Iowa, is a 2025 recipient of a Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to improve energy efficiency in the downtown storefront.

Owner-operator Arla Wagner worked with CEDI’s technical assistance to successfully apply to the USDA REAP program for a $2,221 grant and completed the project in late June, installing two electric air-source heat pumps (mini-splits) to improve the building’s heating and cooling efficiency. Project assessments estimate the new units will save Arla’s business 1,718 kWh or $240/year.

“I’m very happy with the whole process and the results. I love them!” Arla says of the heat pumps. “The CEDI team ironed out the details of my application and saw it through–not an easy feat in a year with so many changes to federal programming.”

For more information on CEDI technical assistance for REAP grants or loans, visit cleanenergydistricts.org/reap.

Arla Wagner, owner-operator of Arla’s Sewing Room in Lansing, with CEDI REAP Program Manager Steve Hopkins. Her two new air-source heat pump units, also used to cool the storefront, appear mounted high on the wall.

Posted: July 1, 2025

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