Other Business Assistance Programs and Resources

Regulatory Compliance Assistance Programs

• Compliance Assistance Centers
  Find out what you need to do in language that relates directly to the operations of your business or government agency.
• EPA's Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
  Provides a voice for small businesses, small communities and non-profit enterprises in EPA's rulemaking process.
• EPA’s Compliance Assistance Website
  Help understanding environmental regulations by document type and keyword.
• EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
  A series of profiles or notebooks containing information on selected major industries.
• Regulations.gov
  Environmental regulatory documents and updates. Share your knowledge and make your voice count.
• Office of Advocacy
  New federal rules

Pollution Prevention and Sustainability

• DEQ's Sustainability Website
  Efforts to encourage and promote effective sustainable options within businesses and communities.
• Oregon Solutions for a Sustainable Future
  Local agencies, organizations and businesses taking leadership roles in sustainable development.
• P2Rx - Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange
  Consortium of eight regional pollution prevention information centers, funded in part through grants from EPA.
• The Natural Step Network
  Information and support related to sustainability.
• Small Entity Compliance Guide: National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for Architectural Coatings
  Step-by-step procedures for complying with the architectural coatings regulation.
• Environmental Handbook for Oregon Printers
  What you need to know about air, land and water quality with an eye for being green.

Material Exchanges and Waste Prevention

• The Northwest Materialsmart
  Options for buying, selling and exchanging materials.
• Oregon's Commercial Waste Reduction Clearinghouse
  Information on unused byproducts and preventable waste.
• Zero Waste Alliance
  Increase efficiency and profitability by reducing environmental impacts.

Environmental Management Systems

• EPA's Environmental Management Systems
  Reduce environmental impacts and increase operating efficiency.

Energy Conservation, Tax Credits and Loan programs

• EnergyTrust
  Energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Oregon Department of Energy
  Energy tax credits, loans, new energy technologies and inventions, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
  Non-profit group that supports regional programs to make affordable, energy-efficient products and services available in the marketplace.
• Ecotrust
  Nonprofit organization working to support entrepreneurs whose work improves environmental, economic and social conditions.

Ombudsman programs

• Office of the National Small Business Administration Ombudsman
  The National Ombudsman's primary mission is to assist small businesses when they experience excessive federal regulatory enforcement actions.

Business Development and Operational Services

• Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA)
  Free, confidential consultation services to help improve worker safety and health.
• Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM)
  Administers the Community Right to Know Hazardous Substance Information System in Oregon which identifies hazardous substances used, stored, manufactured and/or disposed of in Oregon. Includes a searchable data base to find Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for specific chemicals.
• Oregon BizCenter
  Free, confidential one-on-one consulting, workshops, books, software and small business tools.
• U.S. Small Business Administration
  Portland District Office assists small businesses by offering financing, training and advocacy.

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