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Kaplan's Careful Cleaners

Success Story: Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners Wins National Environmental Stewardship Award

Written by Jeremy on . Posted in Breaking News, Press Release, Success Stories. No Comments on Success Story: Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners Wins National Environmental Stewardship Award

We are proud to share that Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners of Camp Hill, PA, has been selected as a recipient of the 2025 Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award by the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs (SBEAPs). This prestigious national honor recognizes the company’s exceptional leadership in pollution prevention and sustainability. In addition, it recognizes mentoring and its commitment to a cleaner Pennsylvania.

A Multi-Generational Transition to Environmentally-Friendly Technology

The award highlights a successful partnership between two generations of small business leadership. Alana Kaplan served as the catalyst for the project, advocating for the family business to modernize its facility. She also pushed for the business to move away from hazardous chemicals. Working alongside her father, Dale Kaplan, who has chaired Pennsylvania’s Small Business Compliance Advisory Committee for 25 years, the team successfully navigated a complex technical and regulatory transition.

The Impact: Cleaner Air and a Stronger Bottom Line

With technical assistance from EMAP and a Small Business Advantage Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Small Business Ombudsman’s Office, the Kaplans retired their equipment using perchloroethylene (PERC), a known hazardous air pollutant.

By switching to an advanced aqueous cleaning system, Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners achieved:

  • 100% Elimination of PERC: Removing approximately 260 gallons of hazardous solvent waste annually.

  • Significant Financial Savings: An estimated $23,432 in annual savings through reduced solvent purchases, lower waste disposal fees, and decreased regulatory compliance costs.

  • Enhanced Safety: A healthier environment for employees, customers, and the Camp Hill community.

Leadership in the Small Business Community

Dale Kaplan has spent over two decades mentoring peers on pollution prevention and sustainability. By sharing their firsthand experience transitioning to aqueous cleaning, the Kaplans reinforce the idea that collaboration with state technical experts is both accessible and highly worthwhile. This is especially important for small business owners. Their example challenges industry norms and empowers others to adopt safer, cleaner technologies.

How EMAP Can Help Your Small Business

Kaplan’s Careful Cleaners serves as a national model for how small businesses can adopt safer, more sustainable technologies while improving profitability.

The team at EMAP is dedicated to providing free, confidential technical assistance to help Pennsylvania entrepreneurs navigate environmental regulations. EMAP can also help small businesses identify funding opportunities for pollution prevention upgrades and to improve operations.

Now Open: 2025–2026 PA DEP Small Business Advantage Grant

Written by Jeremy on . Posted in Breaking News, Funding Opportunities. No Comments on Now Open: 2025–2026 PA DEP Small Business Advantage Grant

Pennsylvania small businesses can now apply for up to $12,000 in grant funding through the 2025–2026 Small Business Advantage Grant Program. This competitive reimbursement grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) supports small, for-profit businesses investing in energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and natural resource protection.

The program opened on August 1, 2025, and applications will be accepted through March 13, 2026, or until funding is exhausted—whichever comes first.

What’s New This Year

  • Tiered funding based on project location and environmental impact:

    • Up to 50% of eligible project costs or $7,500 (whichever is less)

    • Up to 65% or $9,750 for projects located in an Environmental Justice (EJ) area or that achieve significant environmental savings

    • Up to 80% or $12,000 for projects that meet both criteria

  • Projects must demonstrate at least $500 in annual savings and reduce energy or pollution-related costs by 20 percent. Natural resource protection projects are exempt from the financial savings requirement but must meet specific pollution reduction goals.

Eligible Projects

Eligible project categories include:

  • LED lighting upgrades (Energy Star or DLC certified)

  • Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) improvements

  • High-efficiency boilers and refrigeration systems

  • Medical imaging equipment upgrades (x-rays and scanners)

  • Truck retrofits to reduce idling or improve aerodynamics

  • Agricultural or non-agricultural runoff control or natural resource protection

  • Other pollution prevention and energy-saving equipment upgrades

Who Can Apply

To qualify, applicants must:

  • Be a for-profit business located in Pennsylvania

  • Have 100 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including all affiliates

  • Be registered to do business in Pennsylvania and have an SAP Vendor Number

  • Be able to pay project costs upfront and apply for reimbursement later

All work must be completed between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the Commonwealth’s Electronic Single Application (ESA) system at https://grants.pa.gov. Paper applications are not accepted.

Step-by-step instructions and eligibility checklists are available in the program guidelines.

Need Help?

EMAP can answer simple questions and provide general guidance about the Small Business Advantage Grant program. We are available to help small businesses understand the application process and determine if a project might be eligible.

Jeremy Hancher

Jeremy Hancher is the EMAP Program Manager located at the Widener University SBDC.  He holds over 15 years of experience in environmental compliance, environmental policy, and program management.  He is proud to be the team lead of the award-winning EMAP program which provides free and confidential environmental assistance to the Pennsylvania small business community in fulfillment of the requirements of the Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act and Section 507 of the federal Clean Air Act.
In 2015, Jeremy was part of the team effort when EMAP was recognized by US EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy for Outstanding Accomplishments by a State Small Business Environmental Assistance Provider in Providing Technical Environmental Assistance to the Small Business Community. Jeremy holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and a certificate from the Wharton School.