Small Business Environmental Compliance

"Small businesses face many challenges as they strive toward growth and profitability. Adding to this challenge is the demand for improved environmental performance. Pollution prevention is often the most cost effective way to improve environmental performance. Yet, small firms often lack the expertise they need to pursue pollution prevention opportunities. There are a number of state agencies in New York that provide assistance and funding to small businesses to implement pollution prevention strategies. They often work in collaboration with nonprofit organizations that provide on-site technical assistance and consultancy to small businesses. It is up to the small business management to decide whether they want to get involved in these programs. This thesis explores how the state grants are being used by small busienesses to adopt pollution prevention practices and technologies, and what are the major criteria that influence small business management's decision to voluntarily participate in these state funded projects"--Abstract.