Grants Available To Help PA Farmers And Small Businesses Save Money And Reduce Pollution

Press release from TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce:

October 29, 2020

Harrisburg, PA - Grant funding for energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects for small business owners and farmers are still available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through the Small Business Advantage Grant program.

"This grant program was created with small businesses and farmers in mind. There are tremendous monetary savings available to Pennsylvania's small business owners by installing energy-efficient equipment such as LED lighting, and Energy star rated HVAC and boilers," said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. "Pennsylvania farmers can also benefit from these grants by receiving support for undertaking projects to help them divert sediment and nutrient runoff from our waterways.'"

Pennsylvania farmers and other small business owners with 100 or fewer full-time employees are eligible for the grants. Projects must save the business a minimum of $500 and 25 percent annually in energy consumption or pollution rerated expenses. Natural resource protection projects are exempt from the minimums; however, the projects must be able to quantify sediment and nutrient reductions into nearby waterways.

Businesses can apply for 50 percent matching funds for equipment or materials, up to $7,000, when adopting energy efficient or pollution prevention equipment or processes. Applications are considered on a first come, first served basis, and will be accepted until fiscal year 2020-21 funds are exhausted, or Monday, April 12, 2021, whichever occurs first.

The complete grant application package is available by visiting the DEP Small Business Ombudsman's Office's site.

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

This press release was produced by TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.