The U.S. Small Business Administration recently announced Small Business Energy Efficiency Grants to Small Business Development Center networks in seven states (including Nevada) to fund projects that provide energy efficiency assistance to small businesses. Each grant award is in the amount of $125,000. The Small Business Administration is committed to helping small businesses save money by making them more energy efficient and more competitive. The grant awards will help small businesses conserve energy and use it more efficiently.
“Small businesses are leading the way in developing green technology,” says Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills. “These Small Business Development Centers are well positioned to help equip small businesses with energy efficiency tools and information. It is a win-win because a small business saves on energy bills while contributing to the growth of green jobs in other local businesses.”
The Nevada Small Business Development Center, hosted by the University of Nevada, was selected to receive a grant because of its response to the needs of small businesses in terms of education and implementation of energy efficiency programs. The Nevada Small Business Development Center has expanded its involvement with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Rebuild America building energy efficiency retrofit program, the Nevada State Office of Energy, the major Nevada Electric Utilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection to provide energy audits and assist small businesses in evaluating and implementing energy efficiency measures. With this grant, the center will offer education on renewable energy generation, constructing high performance green buildings and developing and commercializing clean technology products, goods, services and processes. The center will also help small businesses improve environmental performance using source reduction approaches, including toxic reduction, waste and emissions minimization. For more information, visit www.nsbdc.org.
