The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today the availability of up to $1,000,000 of grant funding in the 13th year of the Commonwealth’s Small Business Advantage Grant Program for small businesses that adopt or acquire equipment or processes that promote pollution prevention and/or energy efficiency projects.

With more than 900,000 small businesses in this Commonwealth, a well-designed energy efficiency or pollution prevention project can help small businesses cut operating costs and complement the economy, while simultaneously protecting the environment.

The grants provide funding to projects that include auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks, HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery systems and waste recycling systems.

Applicants must be a for-profit corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or fewer full-time employees. The grant-supported project must be located in Pennsylvania. Eligible projects must save the business a minimum of $500 and 25 percent annually in energy consumption or pollution related expenses.

Businesses can apply for 50 percent matching funds of up to $9,500 to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention equipment or procedures. Funding is eligible for those costs incurred between July 25, 2016 and June 30, 2017.

Last year, DEP awarded 151 grants totaling nearly $1 million to Pennsylvania businesses to support pollution prevention and energy efficient upgrades, spurring more than $2.9 million in private investment.
The grant program is funded by the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, which is financed by the PA Capital Stock and Franchise Tax and Act 13 Impact Fee as well as the hazardous waste transportation and management fees, and hazardous sites cost recovery.

Applicants will be considered on a first come, first served basis. Applications will be accepted until fiscal year 2016-17 funds are exhausted or April 14, 2017, whichever occurs first.
Applications are available by visiting the DEP Small Business Ombudsman’s Office Site. Applicants are advised to carefully review the guidance document, which has been updated and is also available on the DEP eLibrary.

Applications must be mailed to DEP’s Grants Center, P.O. Box 8776, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8776 or hand delivered to the center, 15th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market St., Harrisburg. Faxed or electronic submissions will not be accepted.

To contact the Small Business Ombudsman’s Office, call 717-772-5160 or email epadvantagegrant@pa.gov.