From the Pennsylvania Bulletin, August 11, 2007:

The Department of Environmental Protection (Department) announces an open opportunity to apply for funding in the 4th year of the Commonwealth's Small Business Advantage Grant Program for pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. Small Business Advantage is a grant program providing up to 50% matching grants, to a maximum of $7,500, to enable a small business in this Commonwealth to adopt or acquire equipment or processes that result in energy efficiency or pollution prevention. Well-designed energy efficient or pollution prevention projects can help small businesses cut costs and reduce the risk of potential regulatory problems, while simultaneously protecting the environment.

An eligible applicant must be a for-profit small business owner whose business or facility is located within this Commonwealth. All small businesses in this Commonwealth are eligible, including manufacturers, retailers, service providers, mining businesses and agricultural concerns. The project to which the grant will apply must be located within the applicant's Commonwealth facility and save the business at least 10% annually in energy or pollution related expenses.

For questions regarding the eligibility of projects, contact Dave Barnes, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment, Small Business Ombudsman's Office, (717) 783-8411, epadvantagegrant@state.pa.us before submitting an application. The Department will begin accepting applications on August 13, 2007.

Applications are available by contacting the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment, 15th Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8772, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8772, (717) 783-8411. Applications are also available on the Department's website at www.depweb.state.pa.us (DEP Keywords: SBAdvantage). The application package contains the materials and instructions necessary for applying for a grant.

 The Department will accept applications for the program if postmarked or hand delivered by 4 p.m. on September 28, 2007. The Department will not accept application submitted by means of fax or by other electronic means. Early submittal of applications is encouraged, as grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a continuing basis until program funding is exhausted.