GOV. EASLEY ANNOUNCES GREEN BUSINESS GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
$1 Million Fund Will Help Companies Develop Cutting-Edge Green Technologies

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced that small business owners and entrepreneurs can apply today for the new North Carolina Green Business Fund grants.  These competitive grants will help small businesses develop promising green and alternative energy technologies to bring cutting-edge, environmentally-friendly products and services to the marketplace.

“The Green Business Fund helps encourage the growth of North Carolina’s clean energy economy,” Easley said.   “These grants will tap our state’s entrepreneurial talent and help North Carolina’s small businesses develop innovative technologies that are critical to our future growth.”

The General Assembly approved creation of the Green Business Fund last year and directed $1 million for the first round of grants.  North Carolina-based small businesses with 100 or fewer employees can apply for grants to pursue original, pioneering ideas that are both good for the environment and good for the economy.  A company can receive a maximum of $100,000 per grant.  Deadline for grant applications is April 30, 2008.

The N.C. Board of Science and Technology, a division of the state Department of Commerce, administers the Green Business Fund.  Detailed information on applying for grants, requests for grant proposals, eligibility criteria and other guidelines are available at the Board of Science and Technology’s website: www.ncscienceandtechnology.com.

 

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