HARRISBURG – Conserving energy, preventing pollution and saving money are good goals at any time of year, but especially now during the heating season.

To help make the most of these opportunities to reduce expenses, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger encourages small business owners to apply for Pennsylvania’s Small Business Advantage Grant Program.

Under the program, businesses can apply for a 50 percent matching grant of up to $7,500 for taking actions that save at least 20 percent annually in energy or pollution-related costs.

“The small business community is critical to Pennsylvania’s economic health and vitality,” said Hanger. “Well-designed energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects can help small businesses operate more efficiently and save money, while simultaneously improving Pennsylvania’s environment.”

DEP’s Small Business Ombudsman’s Office is now accepting applications for Small Business Advantage grants. Funds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The application deadline is Jan. 15 or until the funds are exhausted.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a for-profit corporation, LLC, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or fewer full-time employees. The entity must be a separate legal business at the time the application is submitted and located within the state.

Applicants may be manufacturers, retailers, service providers, mining operators or agricultural businesses. The grant-supported project must be located within a Pennsylvania facility belonging to the applicant. Examples of eligible projects include HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery systems, waste recycling systems and auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks.

“This grant program is about choices and affordability,” said Hanger. “More choices than ever now exist for small business owners to conserve and save through a variety of diverse, innovative technologies. These grants make those technologies more affordable for small business owners looking to save money and become more profitable.”

Since Governor Edward G. Rendell launched the program in 2004, the Small Business Advantage Grant Program has awarded more than $4.9 million to 928 businesses across the state.

Program guidelines and applications may be downloaded at www.depweb.state.pa.us<http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/>, keyword: SBAdvantage, or by mail from DEP by calling 717-783-8411.

Applications must be mailed to the Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Energy and Technology Deployment, ATTN: Small Business Advantage, P.O. Box 8772, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8772. Applicants must hand-write and circle the word ADVANTAGE on the back of the envelope.