Sustainable Future, a small business in Tennessee, has found a unique way to sell their customers a product, and help them get money to pay for it too. The company installs solar power systems for businesses - something that can be quite expensive.
However, they did research and found out the USDA (United States Dept of Agriculture) will pay for 40 percent of the system with a maximum grant of $75,000. Plus, the buyers can apply federal tax credits for up to 30 percent of the cost.
So in addition to installing solar panels, Sustainable Future also became a grant consulting firm - going after potential customers who are most likely to qualify for the assistance. And the strategy has paid off hugely.
In just a few years, the firm has quickly grown to 12 employees, and by the end of 2009, they will have completed about 10 commercial solar installations and 8 residential installations.
For more info about grants issued by the USDA, visit:
www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/funding.cfm