Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell Thursday officially closed the 2017 Small Business Advantage Grant, after approving nearly $1 million in funding to help reduce costs, energy consumption, and waste for 155 small businesses statewide.

“With nearly 1 million small businesses in Pennsylvania, the economy of the Commonwealth relies heavily on these entrepreneurial ventures,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “The Small Business Advantage Grant has helped small businesses cut their expenses, assisted in reducing or eliminating their environmental impact, and allowed them to be more competitive in local, regional, and international markets.”

This fiscal year the department approved nearly $1 million in grants for 155 projects statewide, leveraging an additional $2 million in matching private investment from the recipients to complete their projects.

The range of savings per business was between $502 and $41,274 per year with the average annual savings per business being $4,061. Combined, small businesses will realize net savings of $629,387 annually.

Projects included installing energy saving LED lighting, switching from traditional chemical based X-ray equipment to waste-free digital equipment, replacing inefficient heating systems with high efficiency boilers and HVAC solutions, installing equipment to eliminate idling for long distance trucks, and replacing dry-cleaning machinery which generates hazardous waste with equipment using more environmentally friendly processes and materials.

One of the awardees, a veterinarian from Butler County, used the grant to purchase digital X-ray equipment that will eliminate the annual disposal of over 1,000 gallons of film-developing chemicals, prevent the landfilling of more than 3,000 X-ray films and related materials, save over 1,000 gallons of water and save nearly 4,200 kWh of electricity annually. The $9,500 grant was matched with a private investment of over $43,000 by the business owner.

A mid-size manufacturer of farm equipment located in Union County matched the $7,000 grant with over $14,000 of private investment to buy new, energy efficient lighting to lower their electricity consumption by over 54 percent.

They estimate annual cost savings of $6,600, a reduction of 82,000 kWh of electricity, and improved lighting conditions on the production floor.

Eligible small businesses had fewer than 100 employees, and were required to reduce their energy consumption or waste by 25 percent or more. The grant was available to Pennsylvania-based small businesses to install equipment which significantly lowered their energy use or decreased the amount of pollution or waste generated by their operations.

Due to the popularity of the program, applications for grants exceeded the program allotment well before the June 30, 2018 closing date. Future grant availability will be announced at a later date.

“Success stories such as these demonstrate the value of partnering with the business community to invest in energy efficient and waste prevention technology. This program is a win-win for small businesses and for Pennsylvania’s environment,” said Secretary McDonnell.

Click Here for a list of grants awarded.

For more information about the program, visit DEP’s Small Business Advantage Grant webpage.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s monthly newsletter, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

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[Posted: Feb. 22, 2018]

2/26/2018