Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) Loan Program
Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) Loan Program supports small businesses with loans for equipment and process changes that reduce waste, pollution, or energy use and lower operating costs.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Due Dates: Open year-round (Loan applications)
Funding Amounts: Loans up to $100,000 per 12-month period, covering up to 75% of eligible costs; 2% fixed interest; terms up to 10 years
Summary: Low-interest loans support small businesses purchasing equipment or changing processes to reduce waste, pollution, or energy use.
Key Information: The business and project site must be in Pennsylvania, with 100 or fewer full-time equivalent employees.
Description
The Pollution Prevention Assistance Account (PPAA) Loan Program provides low-interest, fixed-rate loans to small businesses undertaking pollution prevention and energy efficiency projects. It is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Financing supports equipment purchases and process changes that reduce or reuse raw materials on site, reduce waste at its source, or significantly reduce energy consumption.
Potential projects include high-efficiency lighting, digital x-ray equipment, HVAC upgrades, chillers, motors, and processing or manufacturing equipment. Projects reducing volatile organic compounds or other chemicals, decreasing packaging, or installing closed-loop cooling or process-water systems may also qualify. The program connects environmental improvements and regulatory compliance with economic benefits from lower raw-material, waste-disposal, or energy costs.
