Duke Energy Foundation's 'Powerful Communities' program awards over $235,000 for nature grants in Indiana
PLAINFIELD, Ind., Oct. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded 19 "Powerful Communities" program grants in Indiana totaling more than $235,000 for important environmental programs to support water quality, conservation, and habitat and forest restoration.
"We are proud to support these organizations, which work so faithfully to maintain and improve our natural environment," said Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy state president for Indiana. "Many of these programs provide benefits beyond the local community."
One recipient of a $25,000 grant is Indiana Natural Resources Foundation, which will use the grant for its Indiana Tree Project to add 1,000 acres of forested land in the state.
"It's so rewarding to partner with an organization that invests in their communities and shares our commitment to preserving and protecting our natural resources for future generations," said Jody Kress, executive director of the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation. "We are grateful for Duke Energy's partnership, generosity and genuine desire to make a positive impact on conservation in Indiana."
Other organizations receiving the 2020 foundation grants include:
ORGANIZATION
PROGRAM GRANT
---
Art Spaces - Wabash TURN TO THE RIVER Phase 1 of
Valley Outdoor implementation will provide an
Sculpture Collection accessible and meaningful link
Inc. between Terre Haute's downtown and
the Wabash River within a newly
revitalized central city/county
government plaza. $10,000
---
Arts Council of This program will enhance the Arts
Southern Indiana Alliance of Southern Indiana's
Monarch butterfly sanctuary. $5,000
---
Central Indiana Land Central Indiana Land Trust will
Trust expand trails in two of its most
visited and beautiful nature
preserves - Laura Hare Preserve at
Blossom Hollow (Johnson County) and
Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature
Preserve (Morgan County). $15,000
---
City of Franklin, The Youngs Creek Mitigation and
Franklin Parks and Restoration project will bring back
Recreation the functionality of an area that
has been lost to years of
development and natural destruction. $23,334
---
City of Noblesville The city of Noblesville will restore
native habitat for a central stretch
of the White River's east bank in
Noblesville, at the same time
removing overgrowth of invasive
species and opening the river both
visually and physically to resident
interaction. $25,000
---
City of Sullivan The Greenway project will plant
trees, shrubs and flowers and place
benches along the developing
Greenway Trail System that connects
Sullivan County Park and Lake,
Sullivan High School and the
Sullivan Public Library to downtown. $20,000
---
Clay Community Parks The project is to extend the Craig
Municipal Park walking trail and add
a bridge over the lake's dam
overflow stream. $5,000
---
Columbus Redevelopment The project will remove a low-head
Commission dam; ensure accessible pedestrian
routes; provide safe and secure
access to the river; provide ample
access for emergency and public
safety personnel for rapid response;
and will be designed to reflect
reasonable and responsible
development of the riverfront. $5,000
---
Decatur County This project will create a memorial
Community Foundation walking trail and include learning
and STEAM stations. Funds will be
used to purchase trees native to
Indiana, as well as items for a
weather and music station. $25,000
---
Indiana University Indiana University's Environmental
Foundation Resilience Institute (ERI) will
launch the 2021 Resilience Cohort to
bring together local government
staff and partners to advance local
capacity and produce greenhouse gas
inventories for up to six
communities in Duke Energy's Indiana
service territory. $10,000
---
Indiana Wildlife This grant will support the addition
Federation Inc. of a half-mile ADA-accessible
interpretive nature trail loop that
starts and ends at the new visitor
center. $10,000
---
Landmark Columbus The project will create free public
Foundation programs in early 2021 and purchase
and plant at least 1,300 plants in
Bartholomew County. $3,500
---
NICHES Land Trust NICHES will create an outdoor
observation and interpretive area
with seating for visitors
overlooking the natural play area
and woodlands at this preserve. $15,000
---
Pennsy Trails of This grant will fund a foundation for
Hancock County Inc. wildlife by adding native local
wildflower seeds, plants, shrubs and
trees to establish a healthy
habitat. The grant will also provide
signs to educate others on wildlife
habitat. $8,060
---
ReThink The program will improve the natural
habitat and biodiversity by planting
two pollinator gardens in a
disadvantaged neighborhood. $3,000
---
Southern Indiana This program will help protect
Cooperative Weed Indiana lands and water by
Management Area coordinating efforts to identify,
prevent and control problematic
invasive species. $10,000
---
The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy will
coordinate 15 "Weed Wrangles" across
Indiana's public green spaces. Each
event is a locally led volunteer
event that will educate, engage and
empower local citizens to combat
invasive species and encourage
planting native species. $15,000
---
Town of Arcadia The town of Arcadia will develop a
new pocket park for its downtown
district. It will feature native
shrubs and flowers, a bench, a path
of pervious pavers and a small
picnic table for residents and
visitors to enjoy. $2,500
---
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 850,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana's largest electric supplier.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million (more than $2 million in Indiana) annually in charitable gifts, and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.
Contact: Lew Middleton
Office: 317.838.1505 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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