April 21, 2005

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that a pollution prevention project proposed by Dixie Cleaners of Fenton has received a $48,000 low interest loan through the DEQ’s Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program.

Dixie Cleaners plans to use the loan to upgrade its dry cleaning machine, press, and coat steamer to replace its aging and inefficient equipment.

“We expect that the equipment upgrade will reduce the use of hazardous solvents by 50 percent, and completely eliminate the disposal of spent filters as hazardous waste after it’s installed,” said Director Chester. “These are significant reductions for a small company and prove that companies of any size can take actions that are good for the environment and business.”

The DEQ and the company’s local lending institution each contribute half of the loan proceeds. In this instance, Citizens Bank is participating in the loan.

“This loan will help us replace 19 year old equipment that is out-dated and more costly to operate,” says Thomas Moleski, owner of Dixie Cleaners of Fenton. “We appreciate DEQ’s low interest loan program to help a small business like ours ‘green’ our operations.”

Recent legislative changes have increased the size of businesses that can participate in the loan from 100 to 500 employees or less. The maximum loan amounts were also increased from $100,000 to $300,000 with interest rates to borrowers capped at five percent. The short application helps businesses describe how their projects will eliminate or reduce waste through source reduction, environmentally sound reuse, and/or recycling; including water and energy conservation projects.

Loans are available to all private business sectors including farming, manufacturing, retail, and service. For more information, contact the DEQ, Environmental Assistance Center at 800-662-9278, or E-mail at deq-ead-env-assist@michigan.gov.

Editor’s note: DEQ news releases are available on the department’s Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

Revised April 21, 2005 by Pat Watson