HARRISBURG – The Department of Environmental Protection has awarded$245,380 in grants to help 43 small businesses around the state invest in energy efficiency or pollution prevention projects.
“This program empowers small-business owners to invest in important upgrades that make the most sense for their business,” DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said. “It gives them the opportunity to lower the costs of production, which makes them better environmental stewards and more competitive.”
Pennsylvania’s Small Business Advantage Grant Program provides small businesses with fewer than 100 employees 50-percent matching reimbursement grants of up to $7,500 to implement projects that will save $1,000, in addition to 25 percent annually in pollution prevention or energy-related costs. Since 2004, the program has invested $5.3 million in 1,451 small businesses.
Examples of eligible projects include High Efficiency HVAC and insulation upgrades for new businesses, 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.
For more information about the Small Business Advantage Grant Program, contact DEP’s Small Business Ombudsman’s Office at 717-772-8909 or via email at epadvantagegrant@pa.gov.
Editor’s Note: The 43 businesses that were awarded grants are listed below, alphabetically by county, with the project location.
Allegheny County
The Hill Group Inc., Carnegie
River Development Corp., Pittsburgh
Berks County
Judy’s on Cherry LLC, Reading
Butler County
Charles Andler, Renfrew
Cambria County
The Country Auction, Nicktown
Centre County
Patchwork Farm, Aaronsburg
Clinton County
Sue Salve’s LLC, Mill Hall
Crawford County
Flicks TV & Electronics Inc., Meadville
Environment Coordination Services & Recycling, Cochranton
Cumberland County
Fields Family Dentistry LLC, Mechanicsburg
Dauphin County
Vartan Group Inc., Harrisburg
Boxer Express, Harrisburg
Delaware County
Beauty-Art, Antiques & Rugs, Newtown Square
Elk County
Evergreen Gasfield Services, Saint Marys
Erie County
Jensen’s Target Collision Inc., Erie
Franklin County
The Woods Company, Chambersburg
Kaplan Trucking, Waynesboro
Lackawanna County
BRT Ice LP, Scranton
Lancaster County
Rockville Management Group Inc., Elizabethtown
Stanley J. Weaver Trucking, Reinhold
Lawrence County
Jerry Eppinger, Pulaski
Kenneth E. Eckman, New Castle
Fred Sheffler, New Castle
Lehigh County
Christopher B. Hill, D.M.D., Allentown
Luzerne County
Golden Business Machines, Kingston
American Asphalt Paving Company, Shavertown
Montgomery County
Center Square Associates Inc., Norristown
Geppert Lumber, Roslyn
Philadelphia County
New Riff Cleaners, Philadelphia
Casmos Cafe Inc., Philadelphia
Allen Brothers Wholesale Distribution Inc., Philadelphia
Schuylkill County
Ash–Tec Inc., Hegins
Venango County
Fisher & Father Inc., Cranberry
Wayne County
BGM Fastener Co. Inc., Honesdale
Westmoreland County
Makin’ Tracks Pet Shop, Blairsville
Speclin Emergency Vehicle Sales & Service Inc., Scottdale
Nu Way Coin-Op-Laundry, Greensburg
Karas Trucking, North Huntingdon
York County
SMT Manufacturing Group LLC, Hellam
Baugher Motors Inc., Codorus
Hanover Home & Garden, Hanover
Hake’s Body Shop, York
Cooper Motors Inc., Hanover