COSE Awarded $50,000 Energy Education Grant from State

CLEVELAND, March 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Ohio Department of Development has awarded the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) a $50,000 grant to provide energy efficiency assistance to small businesses.  This is the third energy grant in two years that COSE has been awarded. 

The grant, which runs from March until September 2012, will have COSE coordinate with qualified energy auditors to provide educational, audit, technical and financial resources to small businesses to identify opportunities for energy savings across the State of Ohio.  The resources will be offered to 50 small businesses on a first-come first-serve basis.  The resources and educational programming that will result from the grant will specifically target Ohio non-residential, small businesses which spend less than $150,000 per year on energy costs. 

This grant award allows COSE to continue to expand and further implement a statewide educational outreach campaign to engage small businesses with energy efficiency resources.  If the participating businesses decide to move forward with energy efficient upgrades upon their energy audit, they could be eligible for Advanced Energy Funds or ARRA incentives. 

COSE is once again partnering with Ohio's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) network and local chambers of commerce to help identify small business participation. 

"COSE is proud to have been recognized for its impact on small business and selected by the State to once again deliver these timely resources and education to small business in Ohio," says Steve Millard, executive director of COSE.  "Lowering energy costs is important for small businesses and it will be even more important down the road as energy efficiency mandates start to take effect or rates increase."

COSE is committed to helping small businesses save money by making them more energy efficient and more competitive.  COSE was selected for the grant from a competitive pool of applicants based on their ability to provide energy efficiency services, demonstrated success and experience with previous energy grants and the ability to respond to the rising needs of small businesses to develop greater energy efficiency. 

Over the last year, COSE coordinated 85 energy audits, 25 energy upgrades, several energy workshops and technical assistance to small businesses in becoming energy efficient.  COSE is taking the lead on energy issues for small business statewide because there is a void and we want to ensure their voice is being heard. 

About COSE
COSE is one of Ohio's largest small business support organization, striving to help small businesses grow and maintain their independence. Comprised of more than 14,000 member companies, COSE has a long history of fighting for the rights of all small business owners, whether it's through group purchasing programs for health care, workers' compensation, or energy, advocating for specific changes in legislation or regulation to benefit small business, or providing a forum and resource for small businesses to connect with and learn from each other. (www.cose.org)

SOURCE Council of Smaller Enterprises