Pilot ProgramPilot Demonstrator Project
The Sustainable Business Program will support putting its curricula principles into practice through the pilot-demonstrator portion of the program. The pilot-demonstrator process is a means for selected firms that are planning to make investments in sustainable projects to receive financial support for those efforts.
The Sustainable Business Program will cost-share a portion of the consulting fees associated with the opportunity assessment, scaling, planning and implementation of its sustainable projects. SBP cost-sharing will not apply to purchases of hardware, software or other capital equipment. The total SBP cost-share for the sustainable projects of any single small manufacturing firm will be limited to $5,000. Because the process involves the expenditure of public funds, the selected pilot-demonstrator firms will be required to submit necessary verification and documentation.
Here is an outline of the pilot-demonstrator process:
- Informal Application – A decision-maker of a manufacturing firm contacts the UTSA Sustainable Business Program expressing interest in being a pilot-demonstrator along with any preliminary ideas the firm might have about what it desires to do and the funding that it has available to do it.
- Selection and Baseline Data Establishment
- Facility size (sq. ft.)
- Total staff on premises (FTEs)
- Number of staff at risk of layoff during the next quarter (Best estimate - FTEs)
- Sales ($)
- Natural gas used (cu. ft.)
- Electricity used (kWh)
- Other energy/fuels used – solar/propane etc.
- Water used (gallons)
- Waste generated (pounds/tons)
- Recyclable material generated (pounds/tons)
- Preliminary Assessment
- Project Strategy Development – A guide for project identification
- Early Stage Cost-Share = 25% for the Pilot-Demonstrator (PD) Firm [$250-$500 is their share of the expected $1,000 – $2,000 SBP engagement fee]
- A Technical Consultant may be retained to develop detailed technical plans for implementing sustainable opportunity projects
- Mid-Stage Cost-Share = 50% for the PD Firm
- A Technical Consultant may be retained by the firm to assist with implementing complex projects.
- Reporting: Baseline Updates - Quarterly data update surveys will be completed by each PD firm for the duration of implementation plus six quarters
- Reporting: Project Updates – Monthly project update surveys will be completed by each PD firm for the duration of implementation phase through completion
Sustainable Business Program staff will assist the firm with any necessary documentation for each stage of the process, particularly those steps where the SBP is spending public funds.