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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2009

A Capitol Perspective
A column by State Senator Pat Browne
16th Senatorial District

Going Green Helps Businesses Receive Grants, Save "Green"

Pennsylvania has taken many steps to maintain our environment and to clean up those natural areas and waterways that have been polluted.

Over the past six years, we have also worked in partnership with small businesses to promote environmentally-friendly initiatives and measures such as energy conservation and recycling.

 Pennsylvania's Small Business Advantage Program provides small businesses (those with fewer than 100 employees) with 50 percent matching reimbursement grants of up to $7,500 to implement projects that will save at least 20 percent annually in pollution prevention or energy-related costs.

Since Pennsylvania initiated the Small Business Advantage program in 2004, the Commonwealth has invested more than $6.1 million to help 1,130 businesses save energy and money.

This is an excellent opportunity for local small businesses to take advantage of state funding to make improvements and save money in the long run. These grants help them install new equipment and reduce their energy consumption, which means savings in operating costs as well.

Examples of eligible projects include HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery and waste recycling systems, and auxiliary power units that help large trucks reduce time spent with idling engines.

Under the most recent round of funding, grants were awarded in March to 202 businesses in 52 counties. Those businesses employ more than 4,000 people. The projects will generate a combined annual energy and pollution-related savings the first year of more than $1.8 million, an average of nearly $9,000 per business. The state funds will leverage an additional $3.4 million in private investments through the projects.

Several businesses in the Lehigh Valley and Monroe County received grants during the recent round of funding.

The Lehigh County grant recipients are: Uzar Trucking, $5,000 for auxiliary power units to reduce idling during layovers; Milbro Company (Hershey Paper Co.), $7,500 to upgrade fume hood; Squew Trucking, $4,150 for auxiliary power units to reduce idling during layovers; Insulation Corp. of America, $7,500 for auxiliary power units to reduce idling during layovers; Dries Building Supply Company, $7,464 to upgrade lighting; Mancor Industries, $7,500 to upgrade lighting; West End Associates Inc., $7,500 for HVAC and lighting upgrade; and, Print Force, Inc., $6,160 to upgrade lighting.

Monroe County recipients include: Cain Inc., $4,150 for auxiliary power units to reduce idling during layovers and C & E Assoc. (Brite Cleaners), $7,500 to upgrade laundry equipment.

Northampton County firms receiving grants are: Hoch Accounting, $3,750 for HVAC upgrade; Becks Land and Sea House, $7,500 for HVAC upgrade; and, Orbel Corporation, $7,500 for reverse osmosis-deionization system.

For more information, and to view the list of Small Business Advantage Grant recipients, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: SBAdvantage, or call 717-783-8411.

 

Contact:          Matt Moyer     (610) 366-2327

State Senator Pat Browne represents the 16th Senatorial District and serves as Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.