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Widener University’s (SBDC) has partnered with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to offer environmental services for small businesses statewide under a program called the (EMAP).

To mark the new partnership, President Julie E. Wollman, Provost Fred Akl, School of Business Administration Dean Jayati Ghosh, Widener SBDC Director Lenin Agudo and students were joined by Ed Boito, small business ombudsman for the DEP, and other local and state officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 13 in the Leslie C. Quick Center.

EMAP at Widener now offers small businesses free, confidential assistance on environmental issues, such as improving compliance with local and federal environmental rules, increasing energy efficiency, using pollution prevention to save money, developing and commercializing new energy and environmental technologies, and complying with regulations for worker health and safety.

"EMAP is excited to be part of Widener University's Small Business Development Center," said Jeremy Hancher, the EMAP program manager for Widener's SBDC. "We look forward to working with the School of Business Administration and the student body to provide the support and guidance small businesses need to be good environmental stewards and successful companies that contribute to the Pennsylvania economy."

Ghosh said she anticipates many opportunities for faculty and students through the new partnership.

 “Widener students will benefit from internships with EMAP, as well as research projects. Students will be able to work with local businesses to solve real environmental problems, while gaining experiences that give them an advantage in their future careers,” Ghosh said.

Widener’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has since 2007 been providing consulting services and educational programs to small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in southeastern Pennsylvania. The inclusion of EMAP will now expand the Widener SBDC’s service footprint and provide small businesses with valuable one-on-one consulting by environmental specialists.

"Customers increasingly care about the citizenship of a brand and whether it is doing the right thing socially, economically and environmentally,” Agudo said. “Our partnership with DEP and the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center Network of 18 universities will strengthen entrepreneurs across the state.”

The Pennsylvania DEP provides funding to support EMAP in a longstanding partnership to provide environmental technical and compliance assistance to Pennsylvania small businesses, as required by the state Air Pollution Control Act and the federal Clean Air Act. EMAP also assists DEP in identifying small businesses that may be impacted by proposed regulations, and provides outreach to the business community on proposed or newly-effective regulations.

In 2017, EMAP provided environmental consulting assistance to 298 small businesses in Pennsylvania and staff conducted 37 on-site assessment visits at 30 of these businesses. A significant number of the businesses had complex and long unresolved issues that EMAP consultants were able to sort through to help the businesses thoroughly address their compliance issues.

After being selected through a competitive grant process, Widener is now responsible for managing the statewide program. The university will subcontract with the University of Pittsburgh and Shippensburg University to ensure statewide service coverage.

Small businesses with environmental needs and concerns can call the toll-free EMAP hotline at 1-877-ASK-EMAP or visit for more information or to request service.