Clean air is a coveted but sometimes elusive thing in our region. The factors that contribute to air quality are complex, and it is often difficult to know exactly what role each of us plays in creating cleaner air for ourselves, our families, our friends and neighbors. However, one thing is clear: we want clean air and need to work from many angles to achieve it.

The EAO has partnered with Mecklenburg County's Land Use and Environmental Services Agency (LUESA), Air Quality Division, to help the region achieve clean air. Through this partnership, we're focusing on helping small businesses in their efforts to become more environmentally friendly.

An air permit is required by law for many industries, but the forms and information required to obtain the permit can be overwhelming for many small businesses. The EAO helps small businesses fill out those f orms in confidentiality before submitting them to the agencies.

Most often, small business owners want to be as environmentally friendly as possible, whether or not it is required by regulations. However, the task of achieving cost-effective pollution prevention is a daunting one, requiring extensive research and time developing and implementing plans. The goal of the LUESA Air Quality / EAO partnership is to help small businesses achieve ideal standards of pollution prevention and environmental friendliness. The EAO offers analytical and practical assistance to small businesses, helping them maintain or exceed regulatory compliance, and facilitating the implementation of environmentally sound practices.

The EAO continues to provide valuable pollution prevention (P2) assistance to Charlotte-area small business and industry. Over the past nine years, the EAO has held successful pollution prevention workshops and provided one-on-one assistance to nearly 300 industry and business representatives in the manufacturing and service sector. We have been onsite at nearly 55 facilities to encourage sound management practices.

The EAO provides a monthly e-newsletter, The Environmental Corner, to small business owners on current environmental topics.  Please contact the EAO if you would like to receive the newsletters.