Other Business Assistance Programs and Resources

Regulatory Compliance Assistance Programs

• Compliance Assistance Centers
  Find out exactly 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 small 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
  Provides a series of profiles or notebooks containing information on selected major industries.
• Regulations.gov
  Environmental regulatory documents and updates. Find read and comment on documents. Share your knowledge and make your voice count.
• Office of Advocacy
  New federal rules

Pollution Prevention and Sustainability

• DEQ's Sustainability Website
  Provides information on internal and external efforts to encourage and promote effective sustainable options within businesses and communities.
• Oregon Solutions for a Sustainable Future
  Connects you with local agencies, organizations and businesses taking leadership roles in sustainable development.
• P2Rx - Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange
  A consortium of eight regional pollution prevention information centers, funded in part through grants from EPA.
• The Natural Step Network
  Provides information and support to anyone interested in sustainability.

Material Exchanges and Waste Prevention

• The Northwest Materialsmart
  An online source with thousands of options for buying, selling and exchanging materials.
• Oregon's Commercial Waste Reduction Clearinghouse
  Created to provide the commercial sector with information on unused byproducts and preventable waste.
• Zero Waste Alliance
  Provides opportunities to increase efficiency and profitability by reducing their environmental impacts.

Environmental Management Systems

• EPA's Environmental Management Systems
  Information on how to reduce environmental impacts and increase operating efficiency.

Energy Conservation, Tax Credits and Loan programs

• Energy Ideas Clearinghouse
  Washington State University Energy Program Fast, free help for saving energy and money through process improvements.
• EnergyTrust
  Learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Oregon Department of Energy
  Energy Information for Business Information on energy tax credits, loans, new energy technologies and inventions, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
  A non-profit group that supports regional programs to make affordable, energy-efficient products and services available in the marketplace.
• Ecotrust
  A nonprofit organization working in urban and rural areas to support entrepreneurs whose work improves environmental, economic and social conditions.
• Shorebank Pacific
  Provides small businesses with loans and information on conservation improvements that can increase a borrower's bottom line and the value of the business.

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

• Business in Portland
  Information and services from Portland area government agencies to help you start, run and expand a business.
• Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA)
  Learn about 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 that allows you to find Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for specific chemicals.
• Oregon BizCenter
  Free, confidential one-on-one consulting, workshops, books, software, small business tools, and more.
• Business.gov
  Provides business with one-stop access to federal government information, services and transactions.
• U.S. Small Business Administration
  Portland District Office Assists small businesses to start and grow by offering financing, training and advocacy for small firms throughout Oregon.

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