Small and medium sized business in northwest Pennsylvania are invited to attend a free workshop on May 9 in Pittsburgh and May 11 in Ridgway, Elk County, where they can learn about how to reduce energy costs. A special workshop will focus on colleges June 8 in Cranberry.

The Pittsburgh meeting will be held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 at DEP’s Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh.

The Elk County meeting will be held at 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Northcentral Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, 651 Montmorenci Road, in Ridgway,

On June 8 there will be a special workshop geared to providing colleges and universities with nuts and bolts information on how to reduce energy costs at the Regional Learning Alliance Center in Cranberry.

The workshops will offer business owners information on energy supply options, illustrate how to identify energy cost-saving opportunities and explain how to initiate an energy management program. Particular emphasis will be given to easily implemented, cost-effective changes for small commercial and industrial facilities.

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman is partnering with the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College’s Center for Business and Industry to provide the energy management workshop.

Registration for the workshop is free, and the session is open to the general public. Local government officials also are encouraged to attend.

For more information or to request a registration form for the business workshops, contact DEP at 717-783-8411 or visit DEP’s Ombudsman webpage.

To RSVP for the workshop for colleges and universities, contact Guy McUmber at 814-332-6352 or send email to: gmcumber@state.pa.us .

5/5/2006