By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

Members of the Economic Development Board gave their feedback Wednesday when Karen Majors, contract staff for the city’s Economic Development Division, presented an update on the city’s Business Resource Incentive Program.

BRIP, through which Industrial Park businesses can receive a free analysis of their energy and water use, as well as opportunities for low- to no-interest funding to support renewable energy generation, water efficiency, solid waste and recycling and other business practices, was approved by the City Council in April 2012.

Four companies have taken part, three more are in the process and another six are considering participation. The total funding for BRIP is $625,000, which comes from the Valero-Good Neighbor Steering Committee Agreement Settlement.

Majors said in promoting the program with Industrial Park businesses, one of her focuses has been explaining the marriage of economic development and sustainability.

“This Business Resource Incentive Program is not a stick, it is a carrot. I think that is a successful way to try and move forward with the long-range planning and some of the goals that the city has, both from the sustainability and economic development (viewpoint),” she said.

Majors said she loved sharing the program with old friends and colleagues who are “old school.” “They say, ‘Really? How did you do that?’” She said she explains to them that they have a great funding source, “we’ve got this hole and this hole, and we figured out a way to put them together and make something positive.

“It isn’t always the businesses that are talking in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, but they sure like talking about the dollars they are saving.”

Ron Myska, EDB chair, is also the owner of All Points Petroleum, 640 Noyes Court, which was part of the BRIP pilot program.

“It’s a win-win that benefits everybody,” he said.

Myska’s company eventually received a $10,000 grant to make energy-efficiency upgrades. He described the program’s interview process, saying it “dug into (many) factors of my business. Recycling … something as simple as recycling. Water conservation issues.

“It said if you do this, that and the other thing, it will cost you this much, and will benefit you in this manner,” he said. “I was able to go through and pick out what things were most appealing to me to bring in to my business.”

All Points put in a whole new lighting system, but “there was no redoing of anything. It was very easy, because they did their homework, they were very skilled, very qualified to do the job,” Myska said. “They did it all. They researched the whole thing, they checked it out, they made the recommendations, then lined up the contractors to do the work that understood what was trying to be achieved there. From that we achieved our goals — and if I understand correctly, we reduced the power draw by 90-95 percent.”

He described the savings as “significant,” and the improvement of his work environment lighting as “instantaneous.”

EDB member Anne Lindsay, owner of Lindsay Art Glass, 109 East F St., wanted to know about making information available to downtown businesses cost- and energy-saving information. “While this program cannot help my business, the information can help my business a lot,” she said.

“As business owners, we don’t have a lot of time to do a lot of research. One of the services you are providing to the the Industrial Park is to help them with that research and to find resources. Why not broaden that? Put information sheets together, put them on the website, get them out there to businesses so that throughout the city of Benicia we could use that information to make improvements on our own when we’ve got money.

“While this money is specific to Industrial Park, there is no reason why it (the information) couldn’t be shared.”

EDB member Ellen Kolowich applauded the program for reducing pollution and helping businesses save money, but expressed concern that it had yet to spark an expansion of businesses in the Industrial Park.

“Are some of these businesses that are taking part, do the indicate in their discussions that maybe they want to expand? Or do we get any commitments that if they take advantage of this program that they are not going to move out in a couple years?” she asked.

“I think it’s a great program for what it accomplishes, but I think it could do more,” Kolowich said.

EDB member Duane Oliveira said by its very existence, the program would boost — and attract, and retain — businesses.

“This program … it’s got to lend itself to retention,” he said.

“Look at Dunlop Manufacturing, look at Conhagen. The cost savings alone is over the amount of the grant. The city is coming to you, Mr. Conhagen. We’re giving you a $10,000 grant, and we’re saving you $11,368 dollars a year. In the first year we give you the money, free money, and you’re saving more money than we gave you. After that it’s all gravy.

“In my eyes that’s a huge reason for them to stay in Benicia,” Oliveira said. “Not only gratitude, but thinking that here’s a city that’s trying to help, and is working with us, that is thinking outside the box.

“As far as attraction goes, it’s going to work itself into attraction (of new businesses).”