Contact:     Sharon Goble  (517) 241-8280

DEQ Loan Helps Burton Company Cut Pollution

Colberg Radiator Inc. of Burton is the first radiator shop to have a project approved under the Department of Environmental Quality’s new Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program.

DEQ Director Russell Harding said the $7,400 loan enables Colberg Radiator to buy a closed-loop water-recycling system.  This equipment allows the company to reduce its annual 500 gallons of liquid waste containing lead, zinc and silt to just 20 gallons of waste.

The loan program is part of the Clean Michigan Initiative, a $675 million environmental bond proposed by Governor John Engler and overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1998.

“More businesses are incorporating pollution prevention into their capital investment decisions, as well as their daily decision-making,” Harding said.  “That benefits the environment and the bottom line. This program gives small businesses the help that they need to make that investment.”

The DEQ works in partnership with the company and its local bank in an arrangement where the loan is split between the participating lending institution and the DEQ’s Clean Michigan Initiative fund.  In this instance, Bank One of Burton is participating in the loan.

“As a member of the National Automotive Radiator Service Association, I hope my experience with the loan program will encourage others in my line of business to participate,” said Jim Coleman, president of Colberg Radiator.  “The combination of protecting the environment and saving money makes this project worthwhile.”

Businesses with fewer than 100 employees can apply for the low-interest loans of up to $100,000 by describing how their proposed projects meet the definition of pollution prevention.  Projects that eliminate or reduce waste through source reduction or environmentally sound reuse or recycling are considered for loan funding.

Loans are available to all private business sectors, including farming, manufacturing, retail, and service.  The DEQ’s Environmental Assistance Division administers the program.

For more information, contact the DEQ at 1-800-662-9278.