National Clothesline

The Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant Program concluded for the current budget year after allocating the last of its available funds to help small businesses enhance energy efficiency and promote pollution prevention.

Overall, the program had handed out more than $2 million in grants to businesses statewide during the past couple of years.

The financial awards provide a 50 percent match of up to $7,500 to companies that purchase new equipment or technological processes aimed at helping the environment.

“These grants help Pennsylvania’s small businesses become more energy efficient, cut waste and prevent pollution,” said Gov. Rendell. “By investing in innovative technologies and processes, we are making our economy more sustainable, our small business community more competitive and our nation, ultimately, more secure.”

The program was launched by Gov. Rendell in July of 2004. Since then, it has helped almost 450 business across the state on a first-come, first-served basis, including several drycleaning plants who have enlisted aid from the program.

In Allegheny County, Prologue Services LLC received $7,500 to upgrade its drycleaning technology. Also, Ruby’s Cleaners of Mount Lebanon was awarded the same amount to purchase and install new equipment to reduce its perc consumption and hazardous waste generation.

Also in the county, R-Laundromat received $5,218 to purchase and install high-efficiency washing machines to reduce energy and water usage.

American Westech Inc. of Dauphin County was awarded the highest amount, $7,500, to buy new cleaning equipment designed to decrease perc consumption.

In Erie County, Quick Clean sought $6,090 to install new high-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water, as well as decrease wastewater generation.

In the same county, American Coin Laundry was awarded $7,500 for similar reasons; Clay St. Launderers was granted $7,500 for new high-efficiency laundry dryers.

Over in Lancaster County, Tri-Town Laundry purchased and installed new washing equipment to reduce energy and water consumption. Their grant totaled $6,482.

Seeking a high-efficiency boiler with zone controls, Econ-o-Dry Cleaners & Laundry of Mercer County was granted $7,500.

U-Launder It of Northampton County received $7,500 for washing equipment designed to decrease pollution and increase energy and water conservation.

In Westmoreland County, Jo-Ann’s Laundromat requested $7,500 for similar washing machine equipment, and Same Day Cleaners sought $7,500 to purchase and install new drycleaning equipment to reduce its perc usage.

Finally, David R. Enterprises was given $7,500 for perc-reducing cleaning equipment.

Though the Advantage Grant Program has exhausted the available funds for the current budget year, it may reopen again next July, pending passage of the new budget by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Prospective applicants should refer to www.depweb.state.pa.us for updates in late June of 2007 for the programs’ status.

From the Pennsylvania’s DEP’s home page, click on “DEP Programs (A-Z) on the left hand margin, then scroll down to “Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA).”