HARRISBURG – State investments are helping Pennsylvania small-business owners continue to lower their operating costs by conserving energy and reducing pollution, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said.
Hanger announced that 90 small businesses across the state will receive more than $560,000 in grants through the Small Business Advantage program to reduce energy use and pollution, enabling them to become more competitive.
“Small-business owners face many challenges including how to reinvest their hard-earned dollars,” said Hanger. “In recent years, a growing number of small-business owners have realized that investing in projects that reduce pollution and energy use produce immediate and long-term positive results. Owners can improve their bottom lines, allowing them to make significant investments in their own futures, and the economic and environmental future of Pennsylvania, as well.”
Pennsylvania’s Small Business Advantage program provides small businesses (those with fewer than 100 employees) with 50-percent matching reimbursement grants of up to $7,500 to implement projects that will save at least 20 percent annually in pollution prevention or energy-related costs. Since 2004, the Small Business Advantage Grant program has invested $6.7 million in 1,220 small businesses.
Examples of eligible projects include HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery and waste recycling systems, and auxiliary power units that help large trucks reduce time spent with idling engines.
The 90 projects in 40 counties will receive a total of $564,291 and leverage an additional $1.1 million in private investments. In the first year, they will have a cumulative savings of $521,782 in operating expenses related to reductions in energy and pollution. The savings include:
• 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity–enough to power 130 homes;
• 110,421 therms of natural gas;
• 28,000 gallons of propane;
• 26,000 gallons of kerosene and fuel oil; and
• 40,741 gallons of diesel fuel.
In addition, the projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly five million pounds, equivalent to the total energy used by 190 homes or removing 425 passenger vehicles from the roads.
Gov. Edward G. Rendell has initiated several other programs to assist small business owners. The Alternative Energy Investment Act he signed into law in July 2008, created the Small Business Energy Efficiency program, which provides a 25 percent reimbursement grant up to $25,000 to help small businesses acquire equipment or adopt processes that promote energy efficiency. The program has awarded $2.3 million to 214 small businesses.
The Investment Act also created the Sunshine Solar program, which reimburses small business owners and homeowners up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs of solar energy technology. To date, this program has allocated more than $44 million to 664 businesses to install solar energy technology. These projects will generate 59 megawatts of electricity, or enough annually to power 7,000 average homes in Pennsylvania.
“These financial incentives have made energy-conserving and pollution-reducing technologies more affordable to a greater number of small business owners in the state,” said Hanger. “These types of projects can make a business more productive and more profitable — a combination that is good for the company, the employees, the economy and the environment.”
For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us or call 717-783-8411.
Editor’s Note: Below is a list of the $564,291 in Small Business Advantage Grants, listed by county.
Allegheny
Wojanis Supply Company Inc. – $5,566 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Colteryahn Dairy – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.
Pearce Mill LLC – $5,912 to purchase and install a high efficiency boiler to conserve energy.
Tana Ethiopian Cuisine LLC – $6,625 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Allegra Print and Imaging – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.
Armstrong
Martin Luffey Autobody – $7,500 to purchase and install an efficient painting system to reduce paint waste.
Beaver
Acutan LP – $5,525 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Bedford
Vacuum Processes Inc. – $6,577 to purchase and install upgraded efficient heating, lighting and insulation to conserve energy.
Singing Brook Farms – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy.
Bradford
Leona Meat Plant Inc. – $5,849 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Bucks
SCB Karate LLC – $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded insulation.
The Olde Stone Church Inc. (DBA Marsha Brown Restaurant) – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of a high efficiency water heater.
Schmoocky’s Laundromat – $4,960 to purchase and install two high efficiency tankless water heaters to conserve energy.
Carbon
Weatherly Casting & Machine Company – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.
Centre
Capparella Furniture – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Formalities by Tracina Fisher – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Nittany Summit Wash Partners – $5,161 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Clarion
C&A Trees Unlimited – $7,500 to purchase and install greenhouse energy curtain to conserve energy.
Clearfield
Summit Car Wash Inc. /Your Favorite Car Wash Inc. – $5,865 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.
B.G. Foster Trucking – $4,475 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Clinton
Rapmitco Properties – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Crawford
Cox and Kanyuck Electric LLC – $5,065 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Holbrook Tool and Molding – $5,936 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Lincoln Metal Processing Company Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install process equipment to prevent pollution.
Dauphin
Appalachian Brewing Company Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Elk
Innovative Sintered Metals Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Erie
George Ko Industries Inc. – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.
Molly Brannigans-Erie – $538 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Erie East Market Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Fayette
Pleasant Trucking Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install three auxiliary power units in long-haul trucks to eliminate idling during layovers.
Franklin
About Your Wedding – $6,733 to purchase and install efficient lighting, insulation and hearing, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Route 5 Retail Stores – $271 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Cherpat – $4,176 to purchase and install a new high efficiency dishwasher to conserve energy and water.
Wayne Building Company Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install hearing, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades and a commercial printer to conserve energy.
WCW Tennis – $4,522 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Washington Franklin Developers Inc. – $2,925 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Souders Industries Inc. – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Huntingdon
MAT Plaza LLC – $3,520 to purchase and install high efficiency furnace to conserve energy.
Brick House Gym – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Jefferson
Premier Graphics LLC (DBA Nupp Printing) – $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded lighting and insulation to conserve energy.
Cathedral Pines (DBA Gateway Lodge) – $7,500 to purchase install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Barber Trucking Inc. – $5,740 to purchase and install two auxiliary power units in long-haul trucks to eliminate idling during layovers.
Lackawanna
Homeowner Resource Center Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded installation.
John F. Bushta DPM PC – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of dental digital radiography equipment to conserve energy and reduce waste.
Learn and Grow Real Estate LLC – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Lancaster
National Bearings Company – $2,975 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Lawrence
Kincade Trucking – $4,150 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Natale Trucking – $4,150 to purchase an install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Lebanon
Richard Barr – $6,457 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Luzerne
Blue Hen Lines Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Laflin Truck Service Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.
Kronick Kalada Berdy & Company PC – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.
Lycoming
West Branch Tennis Club – $6,570 to purchase and install upgraded insulation.
Oval Country Store – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
K. S. Bridge Inc. (DBA Bridge Tavern and Restaurant) – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Faxon Cleaners Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install a new high efficiency washing machine and dryer to conserve energy.
KM Harmon Inc. – $7,140 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
McKean
Kane Manor Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
SMP Rx & Home Medical – Kane – $6,009 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Zook Motors Inc. – $6,161 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
W. E. Swanson Agency Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install a high efficiency boiler, lighting and insulation to conserve energy.
Dangelo’s Custom Built LLC – $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded insulation and high efficiency lighting to conserve energy.
Mercer
Gary Patterson Trucking – $7,500 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Mifflin
Main St. Bar of Milroy Inc – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Mifflin County Savings Bank – $3,092 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Joe Krentzman and Son Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install a high efficiency boiler to conserve energy.
Buffington Properties – $3,410 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Nittany Paper Mill Inc. – $3,450 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Montgomery
Niche Investments Limited – $7,500 to purchase and install high efficiency boiler and insulation to conserve energy.
Gwyneda Cleaners – $7,500 to purchase and install new dry cleaning machine to reduce pollution and water costs.
Indian Valley Podiatry Associates PC – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of digital radiography equipment to conserve energy and reduce waste.
Broudy Precision Equipment Company – $4,280 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
BBL Company – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.
Northampton
Nazareth Chiropractic – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of digital radiography equipment to conserve energy and reduce waste.
Northumberland
George F. Amerman – $3,030 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Perry
J & V Trucking – $5,250 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Philadelphia
LGD Read Estate Partners LP – $7,500 to purchase and install heating and water heating upgrades to conserve energy.
Levesque Urban LLC (DBA YIKES Inc.) – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Pike
DooWop Express – $4,150 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Schuylkill
J. B. Geist inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Custom Gun Finishes LLC – $7,500 to purchase and install more efficient paint spray equipment to reduce pollution and associated costs.
Snyder
Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC – $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.
Ideal Family Farms – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting, heat exchangers and insulation to conserve energy.
Union
Copper Beech Manor – $2,001 to purchase and install upgraded insulation.
Venango
Chad M. Baker – $4,150 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.
Schake Industries Inc. – $4,789 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Kapp Alloy & Wire Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Klapec Auto Body – $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.
Wayne
Church Street Laundromat – $4,615 to purchase and install high-efficiency hot water heating equipment.
Westmoreland
Greensburg Beverage Inc. – $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.