Pennsylvania cleaners capitalize on small
business grants
Almost 100 small businesses —
including several drycleaning establishments — received
grants totaling about half a million dollars as part of
Pennsylvania’s program to help small businesses become
more environmentally sound.
The grants are awarded under the
Small Business Advantage Grant Program, providing a 50 percent
match of up to $7,500 for small businesses to purchase
equipment or processes that reduce energy consumption and
promote pollution reduction.
Many drycleaners in the state have
applied and received grants.
Country Club Cleaners of Beaver
County received $7,500 for the purchase and installation of
upgraded drycleaning equipment to reduce perchloroethylene use
and hazardous waste generation.
In Bucks County, Rosemore Cleaners
and Express Cleaners received $7,500 each for the same reason.
Other cleaners seeking significant
equipment upgrades included: Poorman’s Laundromat of
Centre County, $7,500; Pale Inc. DBA Classic Drycleaners in
Cumberland County, $7,500; Best Cleaners in Delaware County,
$7,500; The Scrubbing Board, $7,500, and Ace Cleaners, $7,500
of Lehigh County; Modern Cleaners of Jersey Shore, $7,500 in
Lycoming County; and Fishtown Laundromat, $3,355 and Linn
1-Hour Cleaners Inc, $7,500, both of Philadelphia County. In
Allegheny County, Mike’s Laundromat was awarded $4,938 to
purchase and install a high efficiency process boiler.
The program was launched in July of
2004 and has since awarded over $1 million to more than 200
business across the state.
“Pennsylvania is making
investments in small business to help our firms improve their
energy efficiency and enhance their competitiveness,”
Gov. Edward G. Rendell said. “Energy-efficient
technologies help businesses save on utility bills, and
pollution prevention cuts operating expenses by reducing
regulatory burdens.”
The program is open to businesses
in Pennsylvania with fewer than 100 employees and who are a
separate legal business entity at the time the application is
submitted.
Funding is still available
for the program. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 6,
2006. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications for the Small Business
Advantage Grant Program can be downloaded from the DEP’s
web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword: “SBAdvantage.”
To receive an application package by
mail, call (717) 783-8411 or e-mail the department at: epadvantagegrant@state.pa.us.
Cleaners help sponsor show for charity
The Central Pennsylvania Drycleaners
Association seized an opportunity to promote drycleaning by
becoming a premier sponsor of a charity fashion show in
Harrisburg. PA, that was organized by Pinnacle Health
Auxiliary. The group had ten representatives at the show to
benefit the Pediatric Care Center.
CPDA members were able to distribute
promotional material that identified all their members while at
the same time demonstrating to fashion-conscious consumers that
there are professionals in the area who do excellent work and
support the community.
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