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Small Business Environmental Improvement Loans is a loan program from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that provides zero-percent interest loans of $1,000 to $75,000 to small businesses for capital equipment purchases that meet or exceed environmental regulations, or for contaminated site investigation and cleanup.
Eligible applicants must be Minnesota small businesses with fewer than 100 full-time equivalent employees and after-tax profits under $500,000. Eligible projects include installing refrigerant leak detection equipment, upgrading winter maintenance equipment, installing EV charging stations, switching to battery-powered landscaping equipment, and replacing non-road engines. Loan terms extend up to seven years.
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
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Small business environmental improvement loans | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Small business environmental improvement loans The MPCA provides loans of up to $75,000 at zero-percent interest to small businesses for capital equipment purchases that help the company meet or exceed environmental regulations, or to investigate and clean up contaminated sites. Applicants.
To be eligible for this loan, the applicant must be small business corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, or association be a potential emitter of pollutants to the air, ground, or water need capital for equipment purchases that will meet or exceed environmental regulations or need capital for site investigation and cleanup have less than 100 full-time equivalent employees have an after-tax profit of less than $500,000 Projects.
The loan covers capital equipment purchases that meet or exceed environmental regulations, as well as the costs of investigation and cleanup of contaminated sites; this includes: the purchase and installation cost of equipment installation of pollution prevention and control equipment projects focused on reducing onsite emissions Examples of eligible projects ; this list is not complete.
replacing or retrofitting existing equipment to use a refrigerant with lower global warming potential (GWP) remote condensing units, supermarket rack systems, and associated merchandising cases and walk-ins ducted air conditioning systems with 25 lbs. or more refrigerant variable refrigerant flow air conditioning system with 25 lbs.
or more refrigerant installing refrigerant leak detection equipment upgrading winter maintenance equipment, such as brine-making equipment, sprayers, or snowblowers installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations for fleet use switching to battery-powered commercial landscaping equipment installing water-based paint booths at auto body shops upgrading to more environmentally friendly drycleaning equipment replacing older non-road engines to minimize emission or fuel consumption Loan terms and conditions: loan amount from $1,000 to $75,000 zero percent interest rate repayment term up to seven years flexibility in the types of collateral accepted awarded throughout the year The Small Business Environmental Improvement Loan program accepts applications on a continuous basis.
E-mail completed applications to smallbizfunding. pca@state. mn.
us .
Specific documents and information to include: Small business environmental improvement loan program application for credit (p-f2-72) financial documents – balance sheet, income statement, last three years of tax returns vendor quote(s) – for proposed equipment/services dated within the past 90 days economic benefits – this includes details on: how the loan will reduce your operating costs any reduced permit or regulatory obligations environmental benefits – clearly demonstrate how the project will reduce waste, emissions, or material use.
For projects involving replacing old equipment with new, applicants will need to provide calculations. These calculations should clearly demonstrate: the difference in emissions between the existing equipment and the proposed new equipment the type and amount of pollutant(s) that will be reduced Frequently asked questions Q1: Are there any reporting requirements after receiving the loan?
A1: Loan recipients undertaking Chloride Reduction projects will need to report on their progress and results each season. This report helps us track the project's progress and allows us to create success stories to share with others interested in reducing their salt use. All loan recipients will receive a project evaluation form, from MPCA, 12 months after the project is complete.
This form will gather information about the actual environmental and economic benefits the project achieved. Q2: What are some examples of ineligible projects? A2: We typically do not fund the following: starting a consulting business lighting upgrades, replacing furnaces and boilers paying off an existing loan Q3: What is the application review process and timeline?
A3: Applications are accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis to ensure they are complete and accurate. After the initial review, applications are sent to an evaluation committee made up of environmental professionals. We aim to provide a response to each applicant within 45 days of submission.
Q4: How do I get the loan funds after I’m approved? A4: Once the loan is approved, the loan funds are sent directly to the vendor. Q5: Can I make a purchase before my loan application is approved?
A5: No. Prior purchases are not eligible for a loan. In addition to funding, the Small Business Environmental Assistance program helps small business comply with environmental rules, reduce wastes and emissions, and reduce regulatory obligations.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Small businesses in Minnesota. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Loans offered at half the prevailing interest rate Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
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