NEW YORK—As small businesses are eliminating all kinds of excessive expenses during the financial downturn, local officials announced on Tuesday the launch of a new green bodega initiative to help small business owners save on their energy bills by boosting their energy efficiency.
“With energy costs constantly on the rise, it’s becoming clearer everyday that businesses in our city can’t afford to not go green,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in a press release.
Stringer was accompanied at Camilo Grocery and Product in Washington Heights by Congressman Steve Israel (D-Long Island), Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, President of the Bodega Association of the United States Ramon Murphy, and Camilo Grocery and Product owner Jabel Camilo.
The federal legislation, introduced by Israel, will assist small businesses such as bodegas that want to go green.
The bill will create a clearinghouse of information at the Small Business Association (SBA) about government energy efficiency programs and a new grants program for small business owners or potential owners wanting to become eco-friendly without access to traditional business credit.
“Many small business owners like the idea of going green and saving money on their monthly energy bills, but they don’t know where to start. We need to get our business owners more information about government programs and create new grants for businesses in low income areas,” said Israel.
“Bodegas and family-owned corner stores across New York are ideal candidates for the Energy Star Program and the SBA 504 loan program, designed to specifically finance energy efficiency improvements.”
This grant program will be facilitated by the Minority Business Development Agency in the Department of Commerce.
“With energy costs constantly on the rise, it’s becoming clearer everyday that businesses in our city can’t afford to not go green,” said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer in a press release.
Stringer was accompanied at Camilo Grocery and Product in Washington Heights by Congressman Steve Israel (D-Long Island), Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, President of the Bodega Association of the United States Ramon Murphy, and Camilo Grocery and Product owner Jabel Camilo.
The federal legislation, introduced by Israel, will assist small businesses such as bodegas that want to go green.
The bill will create a clearinghouse of information at the Small Business Association (SBA) about government energy efficiency programs and a new grants program for small business owners or potential owners wanting to become eco-friendly without access to traditional business credit.
“Many small business owners like the idea of going green and saving money on their monthly energy bills, but they don’t know where to start. We need to get our business owners more information about government programs and create new grants for businesses in low income areas,” said Israel.
“Bodegas and family-owned corner stores across New York are ideal candidates for the Energy Star Program and the SBA 504 loan program, designed to specifically finance energy efficiency improvements.”
This grant program will be facilitated by the Minority Business Development Agency in the Department of Commerce.
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