Chamber announces business initiative

MIDDLETOWN — The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce announced a new initiative to help local businesses afford renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades. The effort is a collaboration between the Chamber, the Connecticut Green Bank, and Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy. The team will help local businesses take advantage of CPACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy), an innovative financing program for green energy upgrades. C-PACE offers long-term financing for projects that lower energy costs and generate positive cash flow.

“This initiative is meant to help connect local business owners to financing that will help them afford recommended energy and renewable upgrades to their buildings” said Jeff Pugliese, Vice President of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, in a written statement. “The idea is to help our members cut down on energy usage so that they can reinvest the savings back into the business.”

The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce has more than 2,125 members that employ over 50,000 people in and around its service area. The chamber represents businesses from all industry sectors and of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies, to micro businesses.

The team will reach out to the business community in a variety of strategic ways, and will highlight local businesses who have saved through the program.

“We are excited to be working directly with the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce to promote C-PACE,” said Mackey Dykes, Vice President of Commercial and Industrial Programs, Connecticut Green Bank, in the statement. “C-PACE is a proven tool for businesses to modernize their buildings, save energy, and increase their bottom line – but it is also a powerful economic development tool. The Middlesex Chamber is a valuable partner, and we look forward to working with them to build an even more resilient business community with C-PACE.”

The initiative will target all eligible local businesses including manufacturers, offices, retail establishments, business in mixed use spaces, and non-profits.

To learn more about the collaboration, visit middlesexchamber.com or cpace.com.