National Clothesline

It’s always a good time for a business to try to conserve energy, save money and prevent pollution, but Pennsylvania cleaners have a small window of opportunity that can help them achieve those goals more immediately.

After all, the deadline for the Pennsylvania Small Business Advantage Grant Program for 2010 is Jan. 15.

The DEP’s Small Business Ombudsman’s Office is currently accepting grant applications that will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The deadline could be prior to Jan. 15 if the funds are exhausted before that date comes to pass.

Under the program, businesses can apply for a 50 percent matching grant of up to $7,500 for taking actions that save at least 20 percent annually in energy or pollution-related costs.

“The small business community is critical to Pennsylvania’s economic health and vitality,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger. “Well-designed energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects can help small businesses operate more efficiently and save money, while simultaneously improving Pennsylvania’s environment.”

In order to be eligible, an applicant must be a for-profit corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or less full-time employees. Also, the entity must be located within the state of Pennsylvania and it must be a separate legal business when the application is submitted.

Applicants can be manufacturers, retailer, mining operators, an agricultural business or a service provider.

In the past, many drycleaners have taken advantage of the loan program. During the last application process, more than $454,000 was awarded to 81 Pennsylvania businesses overall. Nine of those businesses were from the cleaning and laundry industry. They received over $64,000.

Among the list of recipients were: Quick Clean of Erie County who received $5,500 for seven high efficiency washers in order to conserve energy, water and generation of wastewater; Coin Laundry Express of Lackawanna County who was granted $7,500 for high efficiency laundry equipment to reduce water use and wastewater generation; and KSL Enterprice Bond Cleaners of Montgomery County who received $7,500 for a hydrocarbon-based drycleaning unit and a water-based washing unit.

Fidelity Cleaners of Philadelphia County used its $7,500 for a high-efficiency boiler, as did Montrose Dry Cleaners of Susquehanna Country who received $6,750.

Other examples of projects that are eligible under the grant program include: HVAC upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery systems, waste recycling systems and auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks.

“The grant program is about choices and affordability,” noted Hanger. “More choices than ever now exist for small business owners to conserve and save through a variety of diverse, innovative technologies. These grants make those technologies more affordable for small business owners looking to save money and become more profitable.”

Since Governor Edward G. Rendell launched the program in 2004, it has awarded more than $4.9 million to 928 businesses in Pennsylvania.

Program guidelines and applications may be downloaded at www.depweb.state.pa.us or by mail from DEP by calling (717) 738-8411.