Feb. 20, 2003
An
important new funding program will give many dry cleaning businesses in Southern
California as much as $10,000 apiece to replace equipment that relied on use of
the toxic chemical perchloroethylene.
The state of California
has designated perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc, a cancer-causing
chemical. In December 2002, the South Coast Air Quality Management District
adopted a regulation to phase out its use in the region by 2020.
Now, thanks to a program
adopted by AQMD’s Governing Board, local dry cleaners can get grants to help
replace their current machinery with non-perc alternatives. These grants from
the AQMD are available on a first-come, first-served basis for a limited time
only.
That’s why dry cleaners
from throughout AQMD’s region – encompassing all of Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties -- should attend
any of the upcoming meetings, where they can learn all about the “Non-Perc
Alternative Grant Program.”
“We want to help dry
cleaners make this crucial shift toward non-toxic technologies, especially
because of the health risks associated with perc,” said Barry Wallerstein,
AQMD’s executive officer.
“Our new grant program
will help speed up the transition to clean air technologies, which are perfectly
satisfactory replacements to today’s perc machines.”
The following grants are
available:
- $10,000 to help cleaners purchase a water-based system known as
professional wet cleaning, or carbon dioxide machines; and
- $5,000 to help cleaners purchase hydrocarbon machines (such as
those using DF 2000), or GreenEarth® machines. (Hydrocarbon equipment requires
an AQMD permit; the other alternatives do not.)
The grants will apply
only to purchase orders/agreements dated after December 6, 2002.
In addition to the
grants, AQMD also provides bank loan assistance to cleaners who otherwise might
have trouble qualifying for a bank loan for new cleaning equipment.
The meetings are as
follows:
- East San Gabriel/Pomona Valley, on Saturday, Feb. 22, –
7:30 p.m., at AQMD headquarters, 21865 E. Copley Drive, in Diamond Bar;
- Orange County/South L.A. County, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at
7:30 p.m., at the Crowne Plaza Resort Hotel, 12021 Harbor Blvd., in Garden
Grove;
- Riverside, on Thursday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the
Riverside Marriot Hotel, 3400 Market Street;
- Downtown Los Angeles, on Saturday, March 1, at 7:30 p.m.,
at the Radisson Wilshire Plaza Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd., in Los Angeles;
- San Fernando Valley, on Tuesday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m., at
the Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean Ave, in Van Nuys;
- San Bernardino, on Thursday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m., at the
San Bernardino City Council Chambers, 300 North D St.; and
- Palm Desert, on Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 p.m., at Palm
Desert City Council Chambers, 73-510 Fred Waring Dr.
For more information
about these important new AQMD grants, or about the upcoming meetings, cleaners
should call Jackson Yoong at (909) 396-3125, or Greg Ushijima at (909) 396-3301.
AQMD is the air
pollution control agency for Orange County and major portions of Los Angeles,
San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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