Grant issued to help small business adapt to changes in coal economy

The Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) and the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, both based at the University of Pennsylvania, have been awarded an $80,142 grant to help small businesses in the state's coal regions adapt to the transitioning power economy.

The grant is part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration's Power Initiative, a program to invest federal economic and workforce-development resources in communities negatively impacted by changes to coal-reliant industries.

The SBDC and Kleinman said they will pursue  a three-phase process: research; statewide, regional and local input; planning for implementation.