The Department of Environmental Protection Thursday awarded $418,049 in grants to help 56 small businesses across Pennsylvania invest in energy-efficiency or pollution-prevention projects.

"Since 2004, this program has generated more than $26 million in private-sector investment in small business," DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. "All Pennsylvanians enjoy the benefits of the return on this investment through making small businesses more energy-efficient and more competitive."

Pennsylvania's Small Business Advantage Grant program, funded through the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, helps businesses with 100 or fewer employees. It provides 50-percent matching reimbursement grants of up to $9,500 to implement projects that will save 25 percent annually in pollution prevention or energy-related costs. Since 2004, the program has invested $6.6 million in 1,642 small businesses statewide.

Of the $1 million in grants budgeted for the current fiscal year, this is the first of two announcements of selected grantees. The 56 new grants will create $1,542,437 of private-sector investment in small businesses.

Examples of eligible projects include high-efficiency HVAC and insulation upgrades, high-efficiency lighting to save energy, installation of energy-efficient heat pumps and new auxiliary power units that help large trucks reduce time spent with idling engines.

A list of grants awarded is available online.

For more information, visit the Small Business Advantage Grant program webpage or contact DEP's Small Business Ombudsman's Office at 717-772-8909 or send email to: epadvantagegrant@pa.gov.

11/12/2012