PA Small Business Grant Programs

Pennsylvania recently developed a new state grant program designed to help small business owners put in place equipment or processes that enhance energy efficiency or promote pollution prevention. Applications are now available for Small Business Advantage, which will provide a 50 percent matching grant of up to $7,500 to encourage reduced energy consumption and pollution prevention that can help to increase profitability for small businesses. Any Pennsylvania small business may apply. An eligible applicant must be a for-profit business enterprise that is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity that has no more than 100 employees and is a separate legal business entity at the time the application is submitted. Applications for the Small Business Advantage grant program will be accepted through June 30, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/pollprev/ombudsman/advantage/advantage.htm.

Another DEP grant program for Pennsylvania small businesses, the Site Assessment Grant Program, will award $500,000 to qualified small business owners to finance a site assessment of their facilities. A site assessment is a detailed survey and evaluation of a company’s business or manufacturing processes, operational procedures, systems, energy consumption and costs, raw material uses, waste streams and disposal costs. A private consultant will conduct the site assessment under the grant program. Guidelines and applications packages are online at http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/pollprev/act190/act190.html.