Minneapolis offers matching grants for pollution-cutting businesses

Businesses can reduce air pollution and make the city healthier with help from the city of Minneapolis.

Minneapolis is offering matching grants designed to cut pollution and increase efficiency for small businesses, such as dry cleaners, auto shops and large manufacturers. The program is affiliated with a public-private state partnership known as Clean Air Minnesota (environmental-initiative.org).

The effort goes beyond regulatory requirements to focus on innovative ways to cut pollution and energy use. Funding includes a 45 percent match up to $35,000 to replace perchloroethylene-based cleaning equipment for dry cleaners; a 45 percent match up to $25,000 for auto shops to change paint booths to less-harmful waterborne paint or aqueous parts washers; a 45 percent match up to $100,000 for novel projects that significantly reduce pollution; up to $20,000 for business practices that increase energy efficiency, with priority given to buildings 50,000 square feet and over that are participating in the Minneapolis Energy Benchmarking program. There is also a small business grant program.

More information about the "green business cost sharing program" is at: minneapolismn.gov/environment/green.

Neal St. Anthony

Mulberrys, the first dry cleaner in Minneapolis to offer pickup and delivery service at the touch of an app, is expanding to San Francisco.

Dan Miller, owner and founder of the Minneapolis-based cleaning business, purchased GreenStreets, which operates 10 storefront locations and two proprietary Cleaning Labs in the Bay Area. "Mulberrys is on a mission to establish the first national garment care brand," Miller said in a statement. "We are thrilled to build upon GreenStreets' local success while introducing Mulberrys' eco-friendly laundry service."

"GreenStreets had the same hanger recycling program and used the same green technology," he said.

Combined revenue for Mulberrys and GreenStreets this year is $10 million. The name will be co-branded for a short time and then change to Mulberrys by the end of the year. Mulberrys has locations in St. Paul, Edina, Eagan, St. Louis Park, Roseville and Minneapolis.

John Ewoldt

Tide Dry Cleaners — the brick-and-mortar extension of the Tide detergent brand of Procter & Gamble — plans to open up to 10 franchised stores in the Twin Cities over the next several years in what is traditionally a local-business trade. CEO Thomas Flaherty of Agile Pursuits Franchising, the division that runs P&G's franchised operations, said one store is open in Apple Valley and another one opened recently in Edina.

"We're already the fifth largest dry cleaner in the United States with only 47 locations," Flaherty said. "We have a commitment to do about 10 through two franchisees [in the Twin Cities]. We'll probably build one or two a year over several years.

Neal St. Anthony

Minnesota State University, Mankato's (MSU) business school, in partnership with the late David Olson's family, associates and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, has created a scholarship to honor Olson.

Olson, an MSU graduate who was president of the chamber, died of cancer in 2014 at 57. Nearly $180,000 has been raised toward the $250,000 goal. Every year, an MSU MBA student will receive a $7,500 scholarship and internship opportunity at a Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

"David worked to create business opportunities throughout Minnesota communities and higher education opportunities for Minnesota students," said MSU President Richard Davenport. "This scholarship will help students carry on David's work."

MSU MBA student Ellie James has been selected as the first recipient. Her scholarship will provide an internship with the Owatonna Area Chamber of Commerce. She will help develop programs to address workforce needs.