In this Section, the following items have the meanings indicated. Department means the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection. Director means the Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection or the Director’s designee. Electric leaf removal equipment means a handheld, backpack, or walk-behind device that is (1) designed to move leaves or any other type of unattached debris or material by generating a concentrated stream of air, including devices that accept vacuum attachments; and (2) powered by only electric means, including battery-powered and corded leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, and batteries and charges required to power such equipment. Eligible equipment means leaf removal equipment designated by the Department as satisfying the criteria necessary for the purchaser to receive a rebate under the program. Gas powered leaf removal equipment means a combustion engine powered handheld, backpack, or walk-behind leaf blower or leaf vacuum. Leaf removal business means an individual or entity that (a) earns income using leaf removal equipment to perform paid work, and (b) has a business mailing address located in Montgomery County. Non-revenue qualifying business means a leaf removal business that generated an annual revenue of $250,000 or more in the preceding year or employs 6 or more employees. Program means the leaf removal equipment rebate program. Rebate means an amount of money, or a discount provided by the Department, for purchase of eligible equipment. Resident means a person that owns or rents and maintains their property. Revenue qualifying business means a leaf removal business that generated an annual revenue of less than $250,000 in the preceding year or employs 5 or fewer employees. Retailer means a licensed entity that sells eligible equipment. There is an electric leaf removal equipment rebate program (“rebate program”) to partially offset the cost for County residents and businesses to replace gas powered leaf removal equipment with electric leaf removal equipment. A Montgomery County resident or leaf removal business may qualify to receive a rebate under the rebate program if the resident or leaf removal business has a Montgomery County street mailing address. a. An applicant that satisfies the eligibility criteria under Section 31B.00.04.03 must apply to the Department in a form prescribed by the Director not later than December 31, 2026, to receive a rebate. b. The Director must make the application available online via the Department’s website. c. The application must be pre-approved by the Director prior to the purchase of eligible equipment. d. An applicant may only submit one application and receive a rebate once per 12-month period as designated by the Department. e. The Director may deny an applicant for rebates if: 1. the Department receives multiple applications from the same applicant or address; or 2. the applicant requests a rebate for items that the Department has not designated as eligible equipment. a. All rebates awarded under the rebate program are subject to appropriation and the availability of funds. b. A rebate must not exceed the cost of the eligible equipment listed in an application. For purposes of determining the applicable rebate rate, applicants are assigned to the following categories: a. Resident. An applicant that is a County resident may receive only one (1) rebate limited to the cost of the eligible equipment listed in the applicantion. The rebate must not exceed $100. b. Revenue qualifying business. An applicant that is a revenue qualifying business may receive a rebate limited to cost of the eligible equipment listed in the application. The rebate for a revenue qualifying business must not exceed $1,500 per 12-month period. c. Non-revenue qualifying business. An applicant that is a non-revenue qualifying business may receive a rebate limited to the cost of the eligible equipment listed in the application. The rebate award for a non-revenue qualifying business must not exceed $1,000 per 12-month period.