June 12, 2006

Artesia News

Financial Aid and Advice for Small Businesses

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has a team of engineers and inspectors specifically designated to help small businesses (100 or few employees) understand and comply with air quality rules and regulations.

This team can help small businesses:

  1. Understand the rules that apply to particular businesses.
  2. Identify equipment that requires a permit.
  3. Apply for air quality permits.
  4. Properly keep required records.
  5. Make sure the coatings, inks, solvents, and other materials a business uses meet AQMD rules.
  6. Seek temporary variance from rules when needed.
  7. Find financial assistance for pollution control equipment.

This team is offering free on-site technical consultation – no tickets, no fines. All AQMD asks is that a business agrees to correct any violations that may be found.

In addition, the South Coast AQMD can help a business qualify for state loan guarantee programs that help small businesses obtain bank loans of up to $500,000 for equipment that complies with South Coast AQMD requirements.

AQMD will pay the fee a business would normally have to pay to obtain a bank loan guaranteed by the California Capital Access Program (CalCAP). CalCAP is a loan insurance program that helps businesses with limited credit qualify for bank loans.

CalCAP loans aren't necessarily lower interest than a standard bank loan, but the CalCAP guarantee could help a business qualify for a loan.

There is no extra paperwork, as the business will apply through the bank. The bank makes all the credit decisions. AQMD will just check that the equipment meets air quality requirements, and pay the businesses' portion of the CalCAP loan fee (generally two to 3.5 percent of the loan amount) if it does.

For assistance or a free on-site consultation, call (800) CUT-SMOG. The South Coast AQMD has staff available Tuesday through Friday and their website is www.aqmd.gov .

 

 

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