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PA Governor Rendell Awards $275,000 to Help Small Businesses Cut Costs, Save Energy, Reduce Pollution

Posted on: Tuesday, 20 December 2005, 15:00 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today awarded 45 grants totaling $275,000 to help small businesses cut costs, save energy and reduce pollution.

"As energy prices continue to reach new highs, it is smart for businesses to conserve energy to reduce their utility bills," Governor Rendell said. "Pennsylvania businesses are leading the way to helping us create a strong economy and a better environment with their energy conservation measures."

"We are using our resources to help small businesses cut their costs and become more competitive," the Governor said. "This is another innovative way we are helping our companies remain successful."

State Small Business Advantage grants provide a 50 percent match of up to $7,500 for equipment or processes that reduce energy consumption and promote pollution prevention while increasing profitability. The program, which Governor Rendell launched in July 2004, has been extremely popular, awarding more than $1 million to more than 400 recipients across the state.

The program has been so successful that the Department of Environmental Protection has had to stop accepting applications. The next grant cycle for Small Business Advantage will open July 1.

"It is clear that small business owners understand the importance of energy conservation and are putting in place new technology and processes that are more energy-efficient that will help them reduce their operational costs," DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "The Governor's leadership and the willingness of our business community to embrace and advance these innovative initiatives are keeping Pennsylvania a frontrunner in energy development and deployment."

The Small Business Advantage Grant Program is part of Governor Rendell's larger effort to put in place policies and financial tools designed to promote advanced energy projects in the state.

Governor Rendell also made Pennsylvania a frontrunner in addressing the country's dependence on foreign oil by supporting a number of innovative initiatives and solutions, including the nation's first waste coal-to-diesel plant, which was highlighted on ABC World News Tonight on Saturday.

Pennsylvania is home to one of the nation's most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that 18 percent of all energy generated comes from clean, efficient sources by the year 2020. Benefits include $10 billion in increased output for Pennsylvania, $3 billion in additional earnings and between 3,500 and 4,000 new jobs for residents over the next 20 years.

The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal- bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.

More information about these - and other - energy initiatives, as well as the Small Business Advantage Grant Program, are available on DEP's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/, Keyword: "OETD."

The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.

CONTACT: Kate Philips 717-783-1116 Charlie Young, DEP (717) 787-1323

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a list, by county, of the 45 Small Business Advantage grants totaling $275,049 to help small business cut costs, save energy and reduce pollution.

BERKS COUNTY

Judy's on Cherry LLC - $7,500 to purchase and install wall and ceiling insulation to improve energy conservation.

BRADFORD COUNTY

The BriMarie Inn Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a geothermal heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to conserve energy.

BUCKS COUNTY

Foranne Manufacturing - $5,500 to purchase and install a high-efficiency oil furnace to replace an existing system.

West Mill Clothes, Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded dry- cleaning equipment to reduce perchloroethylene use and hazardous waste generation.

CENTRE COUNTY

AAMCO Transmissions - $5,625 to purchase and install a waste oil burner and furnace to conserve energy through the use of alternative fuels.

Gamble Hill Tavern - $6,460 to purchase and install a high efficiency HVAC system to conserve energy.

CHESTER COUNTY

Mansmann/Liskey Landscape - $1,857 to purchase and install a high- efficiency boiler to conserve energy.

CLEARFIELD COUNTY

Ramey General Store - $4,464 to purchase and install high-efficiency lighting and new fixtures to conserve energy.

CLINTON COUNTY

Mill Hall Clay Products - $7,500 to purchase and install a heat economizer to capture process waste heat to conserve energy.

CRAWFORD COUNTY

Exclusive Concept Salon - $1,436 to purchase and install a high-efficiency natural gas furnace to replace an existing antiquated furnace.

Putt-It Miniature Golf - $2,274 to purchase and install upgraded lighting with individual motion sensors to control new fixtures to conserve energy.

Kobel Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install high efficiency motors to significantly reduce fuel consumption and prevent pollution.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Nealy/Rine Enterprises - $6,068 to purchase high-efficiency mower equipment to significantly reduce fuel consumption and prevent pollution.

DAUPHIN COUNTY

European Import Maintenance Center - $7,270 to purchase and install a waste oil burner and furnace to conserve energy through alternative fuels.

Morris Laundromation Services Inc. - $5,370 to purchase and install a high-efficiency boiler to conserve energy.

ERIE COUNTY

Tri-Tech Injection Molding - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded lighting facilities to improve working environment and to conserve energy.

West Ridge Realty - $2,847 to purchase and install upgraded lighting facilities to improve working environment and conserve energy.

Clay Street Laundromat - $7,500 to purchase and install new high- efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and decrease wastewater generation.

Grapevine Laundry, Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install new high- efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and decrease wastewater generation.

ELK COUNTY

Paper City Jubilee - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded lighting fixtures to conserve energy.

FAYETTE COUNTY

DBA Union Cleaners - $6,805 to purchase and install high-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and decrease wastewater generation.

Shartzer's Auto Wreckers and Used Cars - $2,756 to purchase and install an oil burner and furnace to conserve energy through alternative fuels.

FULTON COUNTY

MCK Cleaners, LLC - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded dry-cleaning equipment generation to reduce perchloroethylene use and hazardous waste generation.

GREENE COUNTY

Econ-O-Wash - $7,500 to purchase and install new high-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and decrease wastewater generation.

HUNTINGDON COUNTY

Cassville Superette Inc. - $2,250 to purchase and install high-efficiency lighting and new fixtures to conserve energy.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Argo Industrial Machining Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a power factor correction system to conserve energy.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Majic Services - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded dry-cleaning equipment to reduce perchloroethylene use and reduce hazardous generation.

LAWRENCE COUNTY

ALVF Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install new high-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and decrease wastewater generation.

LEBANON COUNTY

Shultz Refinishing - $7,500 to purchase and install a waste oil heating system to reduce volatile organic compounds emissions and to eliminate the use of oil and natural gas for building heating.

LUZERNE COUNTY

Tunnessen's Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a high-efficiency boiler with zone controls to conserve energy.

Ace Garment Cleaners - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded dry- cleaning equipment to reduce perchloroethylene use and hazardous waste generation.

LYCOMING COUNTY

Hermance Machine Co. - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded lighting facilities to improve working environment and to conserve energy.

MERCER COUNTY

Grove City Coin Laundromat - $7,500 to purchase and install a high- efficiency boiler to conserve energy.

Jackson Center Dairy Queen - $6,250 to purchase and install new high- efficiency refrigeration equipment to conserve energy.

MIFFLIN COUNTY

The Bierhaus - $3,167 to purchase and install high-efficiency commercial grade refrigeration, freezer and cooling equipment to conserve energy.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Crystal Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a high-efficiency process steam generator to significantly reduce fuel consumption.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Polysteel Better World Building - $3,440 to purchase and install a solar heat pump and solar water heater to conserve electricity.

Knott Necessarily Antiques - $3,500 to purchase and install two solar heat pumps to conserve electricity.

Sixth Street Laundromat - $7,500 to purchase and install new high- efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and decrease waste generation.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY

Comfort Brothers, Inc. - $3,188 to purchase and install an oil burner and furnace to conserve energy through the use of alternative fuels.

PHILADELPHIA

Welsh Cleaners - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded dry-cleaning equipment generation to reduce perchloroethylene use and hazardous waste generation.

UNION COUNTY

Keystone Pallet and Recycling, LLC - $7,425 to purchase two portable recycling collection units to preserve landfill space, conserve fuel and produce alternate fuels from wood pallets.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY

Lincoln Coin Laundry - $7,097 to purchase and install new high-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and to decrease wastewater generation.

Westmoreland Dry Cleaning Co. - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded dry-cleaning equipment to reduce perchloroethylene use and hazardous waste generation.

YORK COUNTY

Red Rose Trading Co. - $7,500 to purchase and install a corn-fueled heating system.

Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116; or Charlie Young, Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection, +1-717-787-1323

Web site: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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