Small Business Assistance Program

Notice: If you are searching for information on small business loans, visit the Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources.

Overview

The Air Pollution Control Division’s Small Business Assistance Program helps small businesses in Colorado understand environmental regulations since many businesses do not have the resources to hire an environmental specialist. We provide free support, education, outreach, and advocacy to help small businesses achieve and maintain compliance with environmental regulations. The program helps small businesses implement sustainability best practices and projects with economic and environmental benefits.

We offer free and confidential compliance support, outreach, and advocacy to eligible small businesses throughout Colorado. To qualify for assistance, your business must have fewer than 100 employees. We help answer questions about environmental compliance issues and sustainable best practices. We offer comprehensive multimedia compliance assistance to help you assess the environmental requirements that may impact your operations, with a focus on air emission reporting and permitting.

Learn more about the Small Business Assistance Program confidentiality policy.

Guidance and assistance

How to submit an environmental justice summary, modeling (APCD-Form 114), and Air Pollutant Emission Notice (APEN).
Guidance for different types of businesses A to Z.
- Permitting and compliance guidance for specific business types.
Ozone nonattainment area implications for businesses.

Industry-specific projects

Guidance for Environmental Standards for Appliances and Building Performance Standards.

Building Performance Standards and Environmental Standards for Appliances: Applicability and Requirements by industry.

Food waste reduction in hospitals and K-12 Schools.

Resources and strategies to reduce food waste in hospitals and K-12 schools.

Greening the cannabis industry.

Information and resources for the cannabis industry to become more eco-friendly.

Optimizing data storage facilities.

Information and resources for optimizing data storage facilities.

Sustainable breweries assistance.

Information and resources for making craft breweries more environmentally conscious.

Resources

The Small-business ombudsman advocates for small businesses regarding environmental issues. They can provide mediation services, support, and representation to resolve problems related to regulatory requirements, and financial resources.

The small-business ombudsman serves as an advocate for Colorado's small businesses in investigating and resolving complaints and disputes involving environmental regulations. They

Review state regulatory activities to make sure they’re reasonable for small businesses.
Help ensure small-business interests are represented during the rulemaking process.
Help small businesses connect with appropriate resources.
Coordinate the Small Business Compliance Advisory Panel.

Additional Small Business Ombudsman resources

The Small Business Development Network and Business Assistance Center provide resources for people looking to start a new business. The Colorado Small Business Development Center Network provides comprehensive guidance and assistance for starting and operating a business in Colorado.

National Small Business Environmental Assistance Programs.