Contact:     Sharon Goble  (517) 241-8280

Romulus Firm Awarded Pollution Prevention Loan 

GMA Industries of Romulus is receiving an $85,000 state loan to help it launch a pollution prevention project, Department of Environmental Quality Director Russell Harding announced today.

 The funds are awarded under the DEQ’s Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program, a component of the Clean Michigan Initiative environmental bond proposed by Governor John Engler and overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1998.

 “The company’s initiative to reduce waste and operate more efficiently is commendable,” Harding said.  “The end result is less impact on the environment, which benefits the company, community, and our shared resources.”

GMA Industries will replace its dust fines separation systems for both the steel processing facility and the aluminum oxide processing facility at the plant site.  The separation equipment, along with the associated machinery and ductwork, will allow the company to reduce its six different waste streams down to three.  The project also will reduce waste volume by 25 percent to 50 percent, lower the risk of fire and explosion, reduce particulate exposure to workers, and cut energy usage.

The loan will cover the purchase and installation costs of the pollution prevention equipment.       

The project actually results from an assessment of the company through the Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP), a free service funded through the Clean Michigan Initiative.  RETAP identifies waste reduction and efficiency opportunities for Michigan businesses.

“We found the RETAP audit recommendations to be very helpful in improving our operational efficiency through suggestions for pollution prevention,” said Carl Stevens, owner of GMA Industries.  “The incentive for us to implement those recommendations, however, is the low-interest loan program.  We greatly appreciate the opportunity to participate in both programs, and we are counting on the savings that will result from installing the equipment and paying lower interest costs.”

 Under the loan program, the DEQ works with the company and its local bank to provide a loan with an interest rate of up to 5 percent.  Loans of up to $100,000 are split with the company’s bank of choice.  In this instance, Comerica Bank of Detroit is participating and will issue the $85,000 low-interest loan upon completion of the necessary documents.

Loans are available to all private business sectors, including manufacturing, farming, retail, and service.  For more information about the loan program or RETAP, contact the DEQ at 1-800-662-9278.