Financial Assistance
Not having the financial resources to implement projects can be a barrier to pollution prevention. The following resources, including grant and loan programs, may provide you the financial assistance you need to make improvements in your facility.
Grants
| Grant | Description | Funding Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Assistance Grants | Available to businesses and organizations in Minnesota for environmental projects that meet one of the agency’s priority strategic goals. | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency |
| Grants.gov | Web clearinghouse of all grants available through 26 Federal agencies. | Various agencies |
| MN Grants | This website provides a single entry point to State of Minnesota grant opportunities. | Minnesota Department of Administration |
| Growth Acceleration Program | Enacted by the Minnesota State Legislature, the GAP helps Minnesota’s small manufacturing and manufacturing-related companies accelerate business improvements and the application of technologies. | Enterprise Minnesota |
| BizRecycling Grant Program | If you own a business in either Ramsey or Washington County, BizRecycling Program grants can help you kick start or reinvigorate your existing recycling program! Ramsey County offers grants up to $10,000 to Ramsey & Washington County businesses to start or expand their recycling and organics program. | Ramsey/Washington County Resource Recovery Project |
Loans
| Program | Description | Funding Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Assistance Loan Program | Loans are offered for half the prevailing interest rate to purchase market-ready pollution prevention technologies. Fifty percent of the loan funds are supplied by the lending institution at market rate and the remaining half is supplied by the MPCA at 0%. | Minnesota Pollution Control Agency |
| City Financial Assistance | A wide array of financing programs, ranging from $1,000 to $10 million, for Minneapolis businesses as well as staff assistance in selecting the appropriate program. | City of Minneapolis |
| Ramsey County Business Loan Program | Gap financing to for-profit commercial, industrial, or service start-ups or expanding businesses located in or moving to Ramsey County. Loans may be made for capital equipment. | Ramsey County |
| DEED Business Financing Programs | The various programs, including tax credits and loans, are offered to help companies and communities retain existing jobs and create new high-quality jobs. | Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Dev. |
| Small Business Environmental Improvement Loan Program | The MPCA offers this loan program as a means to help small businesses help themselves with environmental projects. | MPCA, Small Business Ombudsman |
| SBA Loans | SBA offers a variety of loan programs for a variety of purposes. | U.S. Small Business Administration |
| MinnPACE | Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is a way to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for new or existing buildings of commercial, industrial, nonprofit, and multi-housing property owners with projects repaid as a separate item on their property tax assessment for a set period. MinnPACE operates statewide. | St. Paul Port Authority |
| Rural Minnesota Energy Board | The Rural Minnesota Energy Board’s PACE program is available for entities that operate in 18 counties in Southern Minnesota. | Southwest Minnesota Regional Development Commission |
Energy Loans and Rebates
Many energy utilities offer energy loans and rebates to meet the goals of their Conservation Improvement Programs.
| Utility | Location & Contact Information |
|---|---|
| CenterPoint Energy | Minneapolis 800-234-5800 |
| Dakota Electric Association | Farmington 651-463-6243 800-874-3409 ext. 243 |
| Great River Energy | Elk River 763-441-3121 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation | 800-889-9508 |
| Minnesota Power Co. | Duluth, 218-722-2641 |
| Minnesota Rural Electric Association | Maple Grove 763-424-1020 |
| Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency | Rochester 800-237-8992 |
| Otter Tail Power Co. | Fergus Falls 218-739-8200 |
| Xcel Energy | Minneapolis 800-481-4700 |
| Fresh Energy | Minnesota utilities not listed here 651-225-0878 |
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