Small Business Grants for Going Green

Green Business Matrix

• Millions of dollars in stimulus funding are available on state, city, and county levels to promote sustainable business. In 2009 the U.S. government implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which provides state agencies with funds to award grant monies to businesses for projects addressing energy efficiency and renewable energy options. Many states have designated the monies received through ARRA to offer grants for small businesses to support new construction or renovation projects that will allow renewable energy sources to be added in the future. Visit your state and local government website for updated information about these grant opportunities and how to apply.

Eco-Friendly Worksites

• Grants to assist your small business in "going green" can bring new life to an organization. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awards millions of dollars in grants annually to a variety of businesses and individuals working for a cleaner environment. Grants offered by the EPA help small businesses to reduce energy use, implement resources for energy-efficiency upgrades or build eco-friendly work sites. In addition, a small business may be eligible to provide company-wide training for green jobs, or funding for new positions that focus solely on sustainable products or green careers.

Green Retrofits

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development program, REAP (Rural Energy for America Program) promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy for agricultural producers and rural small businesses. Grant monies are available for energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy systems, energy audits and renewable energy development assistance. A small business looking to go green could apply for a grant to use the REAP program in retrofitting an existing office or business facility. Categories that qualify for funding are solar water heat, solar space heat, solar thermal electric, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, geothermal electric, small hydroelectric and renewable fuels.

Green Incentives

• In searching for funding opportunities, check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), a concise source of state and local listings for green grants, rebates and loans. DSIRE also hosts a library containing renewable energy project case studies and articles. Recovery.gov, a website operated by the U.S. Government, lists projects funded by grants, along with tools and ideas for the small business owner. Recovery.gov gives taxpayers user-friendly tools to track recovery funds, as well as information on federal grants for small business.