A longtime Cincinnati dry cleaner is investing in safer equipment and securing its future with help from a financing partnership coordinated by the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority.
Apparel Care Cleaners, a veteran-owned business at 8610 Winton Road, received assistance through OAQDA’s Small Business Clean Air Program to replace outdated dry-cleaning equipment that uses perchlorethylene, commonly known as PERC. The project will help the business comply with federal environmental regulations while improving workplace safety, according to a community announcement.
OAQDA issued revenue bonds to support the purchase of a new dry-cleaning machine that eliminates the use of PERC, a solvent identified as a carcinogen. Huntington Bank partnered
with OAQDA to purchase the bonds, providing financing that helped move the project forward.
The business, which has served customers in Ohio and Kentucky for nearly four decades, received $79,108 in financing along with $15,821 in additional financial assistance. The investment is expected to retain six full-time jobs and improve the operation’s long-term reliability.
“This project represents the kind of long-term investment OAQDA is proud to support, helping small businesses modernize their operations, create healthier workplaces, and sustain jobs that create economic benefits and serve their community for years to come,” OAQDA Executive Director Christina O’Keeffe said.
Owner Jim Wright said the financing made it easier for the company to invest in updated technology.
“Access to programs like OAQDA’s makes it significantly easier for small businesses like mine to invest in safer, modern technology,” Wright said. “I’ve been in this industry serving the community for 40 years. This project allows me to focus on providing quality garment care without compromising the health and safety of myself or my employees.”
According to the announcement, the project is expected to generate nearly $550,000 in local economic activity and avoid nearly $491,000 in health care and environmental costs through reduced toxic emissions and exposure risks. The investment also positions the business to meet federal requirements that are phasing out the use of PERC in dry-cleaning operations.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Veteran-owned Cincinnati business invests in cleaner future
