Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs

Disclaimer: The contents of this report are based on the data contained in DEP information systems during the reporting period.

• 1.1 million small businesses are located in Pennsylvania.
• 99.6 percent of businesses in Pennsylvania are small businesses.
• 2.5+ million people are employees of Pennsylvania small businesses.
• 46.3 percent of Pennsylvania employees work at small businesses.

• Women made up 48.2 percent of workers and owned 39.4 percent of businesses.
• Racial minorities made up 16.6 percent of workers and owned 12.1 percent of businesses.
• Hispanics made up 6.9 percent of workers and owned 4.2 percent of businesses.
• Veterans made up 4.9 percent of workers and owned 6.3 percent of businesses.

Number of Small Businesses in Pennsylvania by Owner Demographic

• Female: 364,121
• Black or African American: 71,535
• Veteran: 57,061
• Hispanic: 42,148
• Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 561
• American Alaska Native: *
• Asian: *

From U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Advocacy –  2021 Small Business Profile, Pennsylvania . The SBA defines small businesses as having 500 or fewer employees.

*Data not reported by the Census Bureau.

Since 1996, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) has helped thousands of Pennsylvania small businesses understand and manage their obligations to comply with and report on environmental regulation. SBEAP also provides resources that may help small businesses reduce or eliminate their environmental impact.

Creation of the Small Business Environmental Assistance Program was mandated by the 1960 Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act and Section 507 of the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments.

• Assistance in understanding and meeting technical requirements related to permit conditions and other regulatory compliance.
• Information on regulations and policies that may affect small businesses, including public participation information, so that small business can engage in the regulatory development process and ensure their concerns are considered.
• Information on grant and loan funding for pollution prevention practices and energy efficiency.
• Advocacy for small businesses in interactions with the Department.

• Environmental Management Assistance Program
• Small Business Ombudsman Office
• Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee

The  Environmental Management Assistance Program  (EMAP) provides free, confidential assistance to business owners to help them determine their environmental regulatory requirements and the best environmental management strategies to meet those obligations.   

EMAP is headquartered in the  Widener University Small Business Development Center  in Chester, Delaware County. However, small businesses statewide can reach out to EMAP and access their services through  14 additional Small Business Development Centers  located at universities and colleges across Pennsylvania.

EMAP employs four technical assistance staff who provide support to small businesses statewide. Staff can assist small business owners with:

• Emissions calculations
• Permit applications
• Regulatory paperwork
• Plan approvals
• Grant applications
• Operating permits

EMAP can also refer small businesses to general business and financial assistance professionals, free instructional seminars and educational events for individuals looking to start a venture, as well as for established companies, and other wide-ranging support.

Dent Design Hardware has been a good role model for very small businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector, challenged with environmental and economic challenges. Tim [Dodge] and Dent Design Hardware have worked tirelessly at achieving environmental compliance, reducing waste, and working with Pennsylvania DEP. — EMAP Program Manager Jeremy Hancher

Contact EMAP

Call toll-free: 877-ASK-EMAP (877-275-3627)

Email:  questions@askemap.org 

Contact Jeremy Hancher, Program Manager

(610) 499-4322

 jwhancher@widener.edu 

Visit:  www.askemap.org 

• 109 businesses provided with in-depth assistance
• 77 non-hotline contacts (emails or direct calls)
• 52 calls to EMAP hotline
• 40 requests received for permit assistance
• 34 new clients assisted
• 11 completed site visits

Small Businesses Receiving EMAP Assistance – By Industry

• Accommodation / Food Service: 6 (6 percent)
• Agriculture: 4 (4 percent)
• Construction: 6 (6 percent)
• Education Services: 1 (1 percent)
• Mining: 3 (3 percent)
• Manufacturer: 52 (48 percent)
• Professional / Technical: 7 (6 percent)
• Retail: 1 (1 percent)
• Service Establishment: 14 (13 percent)
• Waste Management: 7 (6 percent)
• Wholesale: 3 (3 percent)
• Other: 5 (5 percent)
• Undefined: 1 (1 percent)

Of the 109 businesses receiving assistance, nearly half (48 percent) were in the manufacturing sector and a significant majority (89 percent) have been in business over 1 year.

Small Businesses Receiving EMAP Assistance – By Time in Business 

• Start up (in business less than 1 year) 2 (2 percent)
• Pre-venture / Nascent 10 (9 percent)
• Established (in business more than 1 year) 97 (89 percent)

Distribution of Businesses Receiving EMAP Assistance:

EMAP provided services to 109 clients, including two out-of-state clients. Below is the distribution of the clients served by DEP region.

Dent Design Hardware, Bethlehem, Northampton County: Winner of National SBEAP 2021 Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award

The National Steering Committee of Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAPs) and Small Business Ombudsmen (SBO) recognized Bethlehem-based Dent Design Hardware with the 2021 Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award, the States’ premier award for  small businesses, SBEAP/SBO programs and individuals, and other business assistance providers who have made significant contributions to protecting the environment.

Dent Design Hardware was recognized for their accomplishments in improving environmental performance, pollution prevention, and sustainability.  

Dent Design worked with EMAP on their industrial stormwater permit application, and then looked for ways to improve beyond the requirements. Once the original stormwater permit was issued, EMAP continued to assist Dent Design with meeting permit obligations, including annual stormwater sampling, coordinating with a local laboratory, compiling the stormwater lab results, and filing annual stormwater reports. Dent Design owner Tim Dodge proactively planted local, native plants in the immediate perimeter of one stormwater outfall to mitigate the volume of stormwater leaving the property and to reduce contaminants, resulting in greatly reduced runoff from that outfall, and eventual removal of the outfall from the stormwater permit at renewal.

DENT uses geo-thermal heating and cooling for the manufacturing location, works only with food-grade materials in our Walk In Hardware line, and strives to be good stewards of the 2.6 acre property which is more than 50 percent natural growth riparian buffer to ensure that stormwater is absorbed into the ground as much as possible and avoid runoff. — Dent Design Owner Tim Dodge

Champ Printing, Coraopolis, Allegheny County: Significantly Improved Operating Permit Renewal Application

Tim McGrath, General Manager of Champ Printing, was referred to the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center EMAP by the Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality Program. Mr. McGrath needed assistance to complete Champ Printing’s operating permit renewal application.  

EMAP assisted with the preparation, completion, and submission of the application. This included, but was not limited to, an on‐site visit/assessment and development of emission calculation spreadsheets. EMAP provided recommendations to Mr. McGrath regarding Champ Printing’s semi‐annual emission reporting requirements. EMAP prepared a more user‐friendly Semiannual Air Quality Report for Mr. McGrath to use. The University of Pittsburgh’s EMAP consultant and Mr. McGrath will continue to work together as needed until Champ Printing receives a final authorization of their operating permit from ACHD. 

Coraopolis-based Champ Printing Company, Inc. was founded in 1979. Champ Printing Company is a full‐service commercial printing company. Employing 28 full time employees, Champ Printing offers various commercial and digital printing services, including posters, brochures, catalogs, newsletters, and numerous other printed items for their customer base. Champ Printing is FSC® Certified (Forest Stewardship Council), uses vegetable‐based inks, and promotes and encourages the use of recycled papers.

Image360, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County: Emission Calculations That Demonstrate Compliance and Save $2,000

David Barringer, owner of Allegra Pittsburgh and Image360 Pittsburgh West, was referred to the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center ‐ EMAP by the Allegheny County Health Department Air Quality Program for assistance with determining operating permit applicability for their graphics operation.  

Founded in 2008, Allegra and Image360 provide marketing and professional graphics solutions for businesses and organizations. During the Covid‐19 pandemic, an on‐site visit was not an option. EMAP spoke in depth on numerous occasions to Mr. Barringer and Mr. Doug Schafer about their operations/production processes and services. With product usage information provided by Mr. Barringer and Mr. Schafer, EMAP prepared detailed emission calculations to determine emission thresholds and permit applicability.  

The results showed that Allegra and Image360’s emissions were well below permitting threshold limits, making the companies exempt from the county health department’s Article XXI Air Pollution Control Operating Permit requirements. EMAP assisted Allegra and Image360 with preparing and submitting a determination letter to ACHD. EMAP prepared the necessary emission calculations and highlighted the applicable exemption criteria. In July 2021, ACHD concurred with the determination letter and provided that Image360 would be exempt from an air quality operating permit, resulting in an annual cost savings of $2,000 for Allegra and Image360.

Master WoodCraft, Washington, Washington County: Permit Renewal and Improvements to Air Quality Reporting Documentation

Jim Sheehan, President of Master WoodCraft Corporation, was referred to the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center EMAP by the Pennsylvania DEP. EMAP assisted Mr. Sheehan with preparation and submission of a permit renewal application, including emission calculations and development of emission reporting spreadsheets. EMAP also prepared a more user‐friendly semiannual air quality report template for Mr. Sheehan to use.

Lastly, EMAP worked closely with the DEP to successfully reclassify Master WoodCraft from a “synthetic minor source” to a “natural minor source.” This reclassification will result in an annual cost savings of $2,000 for Master WoodCraft as well as lightening the load of the recordkeeping and reporting requirements associated with the new source reclassification. The permit renewal application package was approved on November 17, 2020 and is good for five years. The University of Pittsburgh’s EMAP consultant and Mr. Sheehan will continue to work together as needed for any reporting assistance. 

Founded in 1987, Master WoodCraft Corporation, located in Washington, PA, is a commercial made‐to‐order woodshop that fabricates custom casework and architectural millwork. Employing 20 full- and part-time employees, Master WoodCraft assembles wood cabinets, counter tops, wood moldings, and other specialty cabinetry.

The  Small Business Ombudsman Office  represents DEP to the small business community and serves as the primary advocate for small businesses within DEP. 

• Provides free, confidential assistance.
• Administers grant and loan programs that are available only to small businesses.
• Helps identify technical and financial opportunities for energy efficiency and pollution control that are available through state and federal programs.
• Reviews pending regulations to consider their impact on small businesses.
• Can assist small businesses with their interactions with DEP.

The Ombudsman assists Pennsylvania’s small businesses both directly and through legislators, associations, small business assistance providers, and federal and state agencies.

Contact the Small Business Ombudsman Office

Samantha Harmon, Small Business Ombudsman: (717) 783-0909,  saharmon@pa.gov 

Caroline Zepp, Program Analyst: (717) 772-5160,  czepp@pa.gov 

Forest Edwards, Mechanical Engineer: (717) 783-9640,  foedwards@pa.gov 

The  Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) Loan Program  provides low-interest, fixed-rate loans to small businesses to purchase equipment or implement process changes that reduce or reuse raw materials on site; reduce the production of waste at the source; or significantly reduce energy consumption.

• Eligibility: Small businesses in Pennsylvania with 100 or fewer full-time employees
• Maximum funding percentage: up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs
• Maximum loan amount: $100,000
• Terms: 2 percent fixed interest rate for a maximum term of 10 years
• Available funding as of May 31, 2021: $1,391,781 (June 2021 report unavailable)

The Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account is a revolving loan fund and receives no additional state funding. DEP and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) jointly administer the program. DEP reviews the technical applications, while DCED reviews the financial application, performs the credit check, and handles loan closing and maintenance. Applicants must work with an approved  Community Economic Development Organization (CEDO)  to submit an application for this program.

Now in its 17th year, the  Small Business Advantage Grant (SBAG)  program has awarded millions of dollars in grants to Pennsylvania small businesses to enable them to implement energy efficiency strategies, pollution prevention projects, and natural resource conservation projects.

These projects help businesses reduce costs and may reduce their regulatory requirements, while decreasing the environmental impact of their business operations. 

• Eligibility: Projects are required to save at least 25 percent annually in energy consumption or pollution prevention costs and save the business a minimum of $500. Eligible small businesses must be a for-profit business located in Pennsylvania with no more than 100 full-time equivalent employees. 
• Examples of participants: Manufacturers, retailers, service providers, medical professionals, the transportation industry, and the agricultural community.
• Grants: 50 percent reimbursement grants, up to a maximum of $7,000, depending on the project, for Fiscal Year 2020-2021.

2020-2021 Small Business Advantage Grant Program Update

SBO during reporting period: Ed Boito, SBO (July 2020 – April 2021); Samantha Harmon, SBO (April 2021-June 2021)

• Application round: July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021  
• Total reimbursed: $960,511.00
• Private investment leveraged: $3,645,382.09
• Annual savings for grantees: $943,568.03
• Applications received: 253
• Grant recipients reimbursed: 208

• Air Compressor: 2
• Auxiliary Power Units: 6
• Boiler: 10
• Commercial Washer: 1
• Condenser: 1
• Crucible Furnace: 1
• Digital Xray: 15
• Dry Cleaning Equipment: 3
• Dryer: 1
• Evaporator: 1
• Freezer: 2
• Grain Dryer: 3
• HVAC: 15
• Intra-Oral Digital Scanner: 2
• Lawn Equipment: 1
• Lighting: 117
• Lighting and Digital Xray: 1
• Lighting and HVAC: 7
• Lighting and Refrigeration / Freezers: 3
• Machinery: 1
• Medical 3D Printer: 2
• Natural Resource Protection Projects: 7
• Oven: 1
• Refrigeration: 3
• Refrigeration and HVAC: 1
• Solvent Recycling: 1

Value Added Processing, East Pittsburgh, Allegheny County: Steel Service and Distribution Center Company Upgrades Air Compressor

Value Added Processing provides custom metal-slitting, coil storage, sourcing, and time/resource-saving logistics for construction, manufacturing, pipe, tube, HVAC, automotive, and many other metal-based industries. The company applied for a grant to replace an air compressor with a more efficient model. The $78,429 investment was matched with a $7,000 Small Business Advantage Grant.

• Return on investment: Value Added Processing’s annual cost savings were $39,473 and they lowered their electricity use by 245,325 kWh per year. The company is also reducing carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 191.7 tons annually. The project will pay for itself in just under two years.

Georgeko Industries, Erie, Erie County: Plastic Manufacturing Company Upgrades Injection Molding Equipment

Georgeko Industries produces custom injection molded products. The company applied for a grant to replace the existing injection molding machine with one that produces higher volumes and less waste. The $20,500 investment was matched with a $7,000 Small Business Advantage Grant.

• Return on investment: Georgeko Industry’s annual cost savings were $5,215 and they lowered their electricity use was reduced by 64,530 kWh per year. The company is also reducing carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 50.4 tons annually. The project will pay for itself in just over two and a half years.

Pronios Market, Hershey, Dauphin County: Grocer Upgrades Refrigeration Equipment

Pronios Market, a local grocery store, applied for a grant to upgrade its commercial refrigeration equipment by upgrading an evaporator and adding controls to several pieces of equipment. The $33,194 investment was matched with a $6,859 Small Business Advantage Grant.

• Return on investment: Pronios’ annual cost savings were $11,881 and they lowered their electricity use by 161,727 kWh per year. The company is also reducing carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 126.4 tons per year. The project will pay for itself in just over two years.

Ehst Homestead Farm, Bally, Berks County: Farm Installs Stream Crossing and Riparian Buffer

Ehst Homestead Farm, a livestock and crop producing farm, applied for a grant to replace a legacy agricultural stream crossing with a modern stream crossing to reduce obstructions along Valley Run, a tributary to Perkiomen Creek. The project will also fund installation of a native riparian forest and wet meadow buffer in the area of the stream crossing. The $19,875 investment was matched with a $5,000 Small Business Advantage Grant and $8,586.37 from the Schuylkill River Restoration Fund.

• Return on investment: Ehst Homestead Farm is keeping an estimated 10,016 pounds of sediment, 40 pounds of nitrogen, and 15 pounds of phosphorous out of the stream per year.

2020-21 Small Business Advantage Grant: Estimated Annual Energy Savings/Pollution Reductions

✔️ Electricity: 6,884,678 kWh ✔️ Wastewater: 63,047 gallons ✔️ Natural Gas: 6,497 Mcf ✔️ Diesel Fuel: 19,523 gallons ✔️ Film Developing Chemicals: 1,538 gallons ✔️ X-Ray Film kept from landfill: 144 boxes/packs ✔️ Propane: 3,614 gallons ✔️ Fuel Oil: 3,989 gallons ✔️ Sediment prevented from streams: 11,614 lbs ✔️ Nitrogen prevented from streams: 1,538 lbs ✔️ Phosphorous prevented from streams: 336 lbs

The  Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee  works to ensure that small business concerns and interests are represented within DEP when new regulations are developed and considers the impact of proposed environmental regulations on small business. It is also a forum to provide information to the small business community about funding opportunities and other useful information.

The committee includes small business owners, small business advocacy organizations, and representatives of government agencies. Members meet quarterly to address issues that could affect the small business community.

Regulations Reviewed for DEP in 2020-2021

• Draft Proposed CO ₂  Budget Trading Program Rulemaking Annex A (July 2020)
• Draft Proposed Rulemaking, Chapter 129: Control of VOC Emissions from Large Petroleum Dry Cleaners, Shipbuilding and Repair Coating Operations, and SOCMI Reactors, Distillation, and Air Oxidation Processes (October 2020)
• Draft Final-Form Rulemaking: Control of VOC Emissions from Gasoline Dispensing Facilities (Stage I and II) (May 2021)

Presentations by DEP Staff

• Air Quality: A Perspective (July 2020)
• Ambient Air Quality in PA During Covid-19 Pandemic (July 2020)
• Ambient Air Quality in PA During Covid-19 Pandemic (October 2020)
• Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle Memorandum of Understanding (October 2020)
• CO ₂  Budget Trading Program (May 2021)
• Hydrofluorocarbon Phasedown Update (May 2021)

Quarterly Updates to the SBCAC

• EMAP Quarterly Report
• Small Business Ombudsman Report

Meeting Dates

• July 22, 2020
• October 28, 2020
• January 27, 2021 (cancelled)
• May 19, 2021

Committee Contacts and Information

• Lucas Hershey,  luchershey@pa.gov , 717.787.7019
• Agendas and meeting materials:  Current Session 
• Agendas and meeting materials:  Prior Sessions 

The  Emerging Technology Applications Center  (ETAC), located at the Northampton County Community College in Bethlehem, helps small businesses gain a competitive edge by using alternative technologies to improve heating, drying, coating and curing processes, as well as reducing their energy usage and carbon footprint. ETAC also assists businesses with investigating new equipment, materials, and processes before making large investments or production changes. 

With DEP grant funding, ETAC provides energy and technological consulting services to small businesses with up to 500 employees in 33 counties in the eastern half of the commonwealth. In most years, they also engage with the Northampton Community College Engineering Department to involve student interns in the energy assessments. However, due to COVID restrictions, no students participated in on-site assessments over the course of the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

ETAC specializes in operational efficiency and is a registered Conservation Service Provider with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. ETAC performed energy audits from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, that resulted in more than 147 energy management opportunities with significant savings for 12 facilities:

✔️ Electric energy conserved: 2,396,025 kWh/yr ✔️ Fossil fuel saved: 64,504 MMBtu/yr ✔️ Potential cost savings: $460,878

Emissions reductions (lbs/yr):

✔️ Carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ): 7,074,061 ✔️ Sulfur oxides (SO _X ): 1,163 ✔️ Nitrogen oxides (NO _X ): 1,257

 Contact Emerging Technologies Applications Center

John Barkanic, Director

(610) 861-5381

 jbarkanic@northampton.edu 

 The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP)  has been assisting businesses in Pennsylvania for more than 50 years. The federal-state-university partnership provides no-cost technical assistance to small and mid-size businesses and manufacturers. PennTAP offered 17 educational workshops or webinars for business owners and employees throughout the year, with total attendance of 425 participants.  PennTAP’s main office is in State College, with additional staff in Pittsburgh. 

PennTAP’s Energy and Environment Services are designed to help Pennsylvania companies conserve energy and reduce wastes in their manufacturing facilities, lowering energy-related costs and increasing their profits and competitiveness.

By providing services and solutions to Pennsylvania businesses and organizations, PennTAP creates opportunities for Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) students to participate in projects outside of their classroom. Students get the experience of conducting an energy assessment for manufacturing facilities and then help with the development and implementation of an energy reduction strategy. This provides students with real-world, practical application of their education, as well as the chance to make connections within the community.

2020-2021 PennTAP Results:

• Total Clients: 39
• Client Economic Benefits – Cost Savings*: $703,000
• Jobs Retained or Created: 82
• Workshops and Webinars: 17
• Participants Educated: 425
• Students Engaged: 109
• SBAG Applications Assisted: 17
• Project Funding - Requested: $101K - Approved: $84K - Projects Totals: $544K

*Economic benefits reported July 2020 to June 2021

Clients Assisted by PennTAP – By Industry Cluster

• Agriculture – 15 percent
• Bio-Medical – 2 percent
• Food Processing – 8 percent
• Lumber, Wood, and Paper – 5 percent
• Metals and Metal Fabrication – 23 percent
• Miscellaneous Manufacturing – 5 percent
• Other – 31 percent
• Textile and Apparel – 3 percent
• Vehicles, Transportation, and Related Industries – 8 percent

Contact PennTAP

Tanna M. Pugh, Director

(814) 863-1632

 tannapugh@psu.edu 

Nickle Farm, Sharpsville, Mercer County: Small Farm Acquires Funding, Upgrades Grain Dryer

Nickel Farm, located in Sharpsville, is a small family-owned farm which raises dairy cattle for milk production and grows corn and soybeans. The farm needed an energy audit as well as assistance with a grant application to upgrade its grain dryer.  

Owner Chris Nickel contacted PennTAP for an assessment as well as assistance with applying for the Rural Energy for America Program grant and a Small Business Advantage Grant  to upgrade his outdoor grain dryer with a more energy efficient in-bin grain dryer.  Read more .

We were able to obtain grant money for a grain dryer upgrade/replacement. This in turn saved us considerable money and time. Great service, great people! — Chris Nickel, Owner, Nickel Farm

Bon Tool, Gibsonia, Allegheny County: Construction Tool Manufacturer Makes Process Improvements

Bon Tool is a professional hand tool manufacturer and supplier in Gibsonia. While planning for process improvement projects, Bon Tool reached out to PennTAP for energy assistance.  

PennTAP not only provided a full site assessment to Bon Tool, but also acted as the connection point between Bon Tool and the Penn State College of Engineering’s  Bernard M. Gordon Learning Factory , ensuring a smooth project collaboration experience for two separate engineering capstone design projects. After completion of the energy audit, the PennTAP advisor connected Bon Tool with Penn State Learning Factory students to address innovative engineering design projects at its facility.  Read more .

We are very happy to have found out about PennTAP. It has a dual benefit of giving businesses high-quality, state-of-the-science advice at low or no–cost while also providing Penn State engineering students with valuable real-world experience.  The results of the first project were so successful that we signed up for a second one that will be implemented soon. — Stephen Swanson, Director – Strategy & Corporate Development, Bon Tool Company

The Bureau of Air Quality Compliance Assistance and Monitoring section oversees the planning, development, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of the statewide air quality compliance assistance program. It develops compliance assistance outreach tools and materials, supports the technical assistance provider, and serves as DEP liaison to the SBCAC.

Compliance Assistance: 2021 Dry Cleaner Compliance Calendar

The 2021 Dry Cleaner Compliance Calendar was distributed in December 2020 to approximately 771 dry cleaners in Pennsylvania. The calendar is a convenient way for dry cleaners to maintain required federal and state records. DEP has distributed this invaluable compliance assistance tool since 2001. The 2021 calendar includes a five-page Korean translation of the instructions.