By : Matthew McLaughlin
Source : http://www.cumberlink.com
Category : Small Business Grant
Two Cumberland County businesses have been given $7,500 each in the latest round of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Small Business Advantage grant program.
Metcalf Trucking of Carlisle and Quality Cleaners of Lemoyne both were awarded the maximum amount available at one time from the program, which provides small businesses matching grants to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-preventing equipment or processes.
The trucking company, located at 1530 E. Commerce Ave., applied for funding to support the purchase and installation of auxiliary power units for two of its trucks, while the cleaners, located at 1003 Market St., applied for funding to support the purchase of new dry cleaning machines.
Advantage grants
The goal of DEP's Small Business Advantage grant program is twofold - to give small businesses an advantage and to protect the environment.
"Well-designed energy-efficiency or pollution-prevention projects can help small businesses cut operating costs and increase their competitiveness, all while simultaneously protecting the environment," said Lisa Kasianowitz, DEP information specialist. "We want to keep Pennsylvania businesses competing in the economic marketplace as well as being on the forefront of environmental practices."
Since its genesis in 2004, the program has invested $5.3 million into more roughly 1,500 small businesses. Supported projects range from those as simple as more efficient lighting to high-efficiency HVAC and insulation upgrades.
There are specific requirements for the amount of the savings, but any business in the state with fewer than 100 employees looking to implement projects that will save it money in pollution-prevention or energy-related costs is eligible for funding.
"They can then divert that money however they chose ... which may, in fact, help them grow a little more," Kasianowitz said.
Last year, DEP gave more than $600,000 to more than 100 businesses.
"Projects are reviewed in the order in which they are received until the appropriated grant monies have been depleted or the grant round closes," Kasianowitz said, pointing out the program has access to $1 million each fiscal year.
Quality green
Quality Cleaners hadn't replaced its dry cleaning machines for 22 years before its most recent upgrade.
"This was a gigantic reinvestment in our business," said one of the business' owners, Barry Gordon. "We wanted to get more green, and we also wanted to get an alternate solvent."
"(A) K4 hydrocarbon system is being installed, replacing the perchloroethylene system, which takes the dry cleaner away from using a hazardous chem to using a commercial class 3A chem," Kasianowitz said.
"The clothes are getting clean, they are feeling nice and soft (and) there's no noxious odor," Gordon said.
With machines 22 years more advanced than what the cleaners previously had, Gordon also expects big energy savings.
"It's just plain more efficient," he said.
Reduced idling
Metcalf's project should also have an impact economically and environmentally. The trucking company applied for the grant money to install auxiliary power units in two of its trucks.
"It's an auxiliary power unit that's attached to the truck so the driver has heat and air conditioning without running the truck," owner Christine Metcalf said. "It reduces our fuel costs and puts fewer emissions into the environment."
Metcalf has already done the math - two units will save 4,000 gallons of fuel annually, which will save the company roughly $15,000 annually.
"I think it's a wonderful program," Metcalf said. "I wish we could do more than what we did, but they (DEP) can only do a little bit at the time.
"We'll have reapply next year so we can try and do two more trucks," she said.
Source : http://www.cumberlink.com/news/local/article_ea20fa9a-1d64-11e1-8ea0-001871e3ce6c.html
Source : http://www.cumberlink.com
Category : Small Business Grant
Two Cumberland County businesses have been given $7,500 each in the latest round of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Small Business Advantage grant program.
Metcalf Trucking of Carlisle and Quality Cleaners of Lemoyne both were awarded the maximum amount available at one time from the program, which provides small businesses matching grants to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-preventing equipment or processes.
The trucking company, located at 1530 E. Commerce Ave., applied for funding to support the purchase and installation of auxiliary power units for two of its trucks, while the cleaners, located at 1003 Market St., applied for funding to support the purchase of new dry cleaning machines.
Advantage grants
The goal of DEP's Small Business Advantage grant program is twofold - to give small businesses an advantage and to protect the environment.
"Well-designed energy-efficiency or pollution-prevention projects can help small businesses cut operating costs and increase their competitiveness, all while simultaneously protecting the environment," said Lisa Kasianowitz, DEP information specialist. "We want to keep Pennsylvania businesses competing in the economic marketplace as well as being on the forefront of environmental practices."
Since its genesis in 2004, the program has invested $5.3 million into more roughly 1,500 small businesses. Supported projects range from those as simple as more efficient lighting to high-efficiency HVAC and insulation upgrades.
There are specific requirements for the amount of the savings, but any business in the state with fewer than 100 employees looking to implement projects that will save it money in pollution-prevention or energy-related costs is eligible for funding.
"They can then divert that money however they chose ... which may, in fact, help them grow a little more," Kasianowitz said.
Last year, DEP gave more than $600,000 to more than 100 businesses.
"Projects are reviewed in the order in which they are received until the appropriated grant monies have been depleted or the grant round closes," Kasianowitz said, pointing out the program has access to $1 million each fiscal year.
Quality green
Quality Cleaners hadn't replaced its dry cleaning machines for 22 years before its most recent upgrade.
"This was a gigantic reinvestment in our business," said one of the business' owners, Barry Gordon. "We wanted to get more green, and we also wanted to get an alternate solvent."
"(A) K4 hydrocarbon system is being installed, replacing the perchloroethylene system, which takes the dry cleaner away from using a hazardous chem to using a commercial class 3A chem," Kasianowitz said.
"The clothes are getting clean, they are feeling nice and soft (and) there's no noxious odor," Gordon said.
With machines 22 years more advanced than what the cleaners previously had, Gordon also expects big energy savings.
"It's just plain more efficient," he said.
Reduced idling
Metcalf's project should also have an impact economically and environmentally. The trucking company applied for the grant money to install auxiliary power units in two of its trucks.
"It's an auxiliary power unit that's attached to the truck so the driver has heat and air conditioning without running the truck," owner Christine Metcalf said. "It reduces our fuel costs and puts fewer emissions into the environment."
Metcalf has already done the math - two units will save 4,000 gallons of fuel annually, which will save the company roughly $15,000 annually.
"I think it's a wonderful program," Metcalf said. "I wish we could do more than what we did, but they (DEP) can only do a little bit at the time.
"We'll have reapply next year so we can try and do two more trucks," she said.
Source : http://www.cumberlink.com/news/local/article_ea20fa9a-1d64-11e1-8ea0-001871e3ce6c.html
