The Department of Environmental Protection is now accepting applications for Small Business Advantage Energy Efficiency and Pollution Reduction Grants. Applications will be considered until April 12, 2020 or until funds are exhausted. (formal notice)

$1 million is available for this first-come, first-served grant program that provides up to 50 percent matching grants, up to a maximum of $7,000, depending on the project. Eligible projects must save the small business a minimum of $500 per year and at least 25 percent in annual energy consumption or pollution-related expenses.

“Pennsylvania is committed to assisting those small business owners who want to become energy efficient, increase their profitability, and help the environment,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “This funding will support projects designed to reduce operating costs and boost competitiveness, while simultaneously protecting the environment.”

“We are excited to expand the program to help lower energy bills through the use of solar energy,” McDonnell said. “Encouraging businesses to embrace alternative energy projects helps clean our air, reduce greenhouse gases, and give small business owners a sense of satisfaction on making smart choices.”

Natural resource protection projects by farmers are exempt from the minimum savings requirements; however, projects must quantify the sediment and nutrient diversion from the directly related receiving waterway to be eligible.

Last year, around 200 small businesses were awarded more than $947,000 in grants for their projects. Natural resource protection projects may include planting riparian buffers, installation of streambank fencing to keep livestock out of streams, and investing in agricultural stormwater management projects, with the goal of reducing sediment and nutrient loads in our waterways.

An eligible applicant must have 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees, be a registered for-profit small business and be taxed as a for-profit business located within this Commonwealth.

Webinar July 30

DEP’s Small Business Ombudsman’s Office will conduct an instructional webinar on July 30, at 11:00 a.m.. The webinar will review the guidelines for the 2019-20 grant year. Applicants and contractors are encouraged to participate.

Click Here to join the webinar via Skype.  To participate via audio only, call 267-332-8737, and use conference ID number 4410 1371#.

For more information, visit the Small Business Advantage Energy Efficiency and Pollution Reduction Grants webpage.  Questions should be directed to DEP’s Small Business Ombudsman by sending email to: epAdvantageGrant@pa.gov or calling 717-772-5160.

Other Farm Conservation Grants

Farmers can also apply for these grants to install on-farm conservation practices by these deadlines--

-- July 29-- NRCS Farm Conservation Innovation Grant

-- August 9-- DEP EPA Section 319 Watershed Restoration, Planning Grants

-- August 15-- Leopold Farm Conservation Award

-- August 31-- Prequalification-DCNR/PennVEST Multifunction Stream Buffer Grants

-- Sept. 3-- State Conservation Commission Begins Accepting Applications For REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credits

Special Article:

“Do Unto Those Downstream As You Would Have Those Upstream Do Unto You"

Related Articles - Funding:

State Conservation Commission Begins Accepting Applications For REAP Farm Conservation Tax Credit Program Sept. 3, Increased Funding Available

Agriculture Now Accepting Applications For Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grants

NewsClips:

How Efforts To Cleanup The Chesapeake Bay Can Lead To Cleaner Tap Water

Lancaster Farming: As Animal Ag Evolves, So Will Nutrient Management

Westmoreland Approves Stormwater Management Plan

Editorial: We Must Juggle Helping Older Farmers, Encouraging Next Generation

[Posted: July 26, 2019]

7/29/2019