Centralia Coal Transition Board Supports Student STEM and Fine Arts Program
Centralia, Wash. (April 1, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Board approved a grant award in the amount of $15,000 to assist with the purchase of curriculum, technology and science supplies, fine art supplies, and a salary stipend for instructors for the Bethel After School Program. The purpose of the program is to expand the student curriculum and to enrich students in grades K-12 that are otherwise deficient in their educational access to science, technology, engineering, math and fine arts studies.
The Bethel After School Program is open to all students in grades K-12 who are enrolled in the Chehalis School District. At present there are 89 students being served with many of the students being elementary age, 65 regularly scheduled volunteers (25 of which are mentors) and ongoing enrollment in the program of an average of four students per month.
The Bethel After School Program was started in 2023 for the primary purpose of assisting Chehalis families who were impacted by the School District’s early release schedule each Wednesday. The goal of the Program is to expand to 200 students throughout grades K-12 in Chehalis.
The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as part of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington to transition the Centralia plant away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025.
Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:
Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;
Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;
Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Centralia Coal Transition Board supports public service and emergency response project for Lewis and South Thurston Counties
Centralia, Wash. The Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $90,000.00 to support a community service development project being led by the Chehalis Valley Educational Foundation – KACS Network. The project is expected to support improvements to the emergency network signal which will strengthen signals for the Lewis County and South Thurston County coverage areas. With the improvements at tower sites, the quality of the signals and reach to the community will improve the signal quality and reliability, while making public service and emergency response more impactful and efficient.
The Chehalis Valley Educational Foundation is a 501(c)(3) registered charity and nonprofit public service formed and incorporated in 1991 in Chehalis, Washington, by local Chehalis Valley business leaders with the express purpose of building and operating a family-friendly Non-commercial Educational FFC licensed FM radio service to southwestern Washington residents.
The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as part of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington to transition the Centralia plant away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025.
Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:
Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due December 31, 2023. The opportunity to start flowing dollars into projects became effective December 31, 2015.
Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;
Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;
Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Centralia Coal Transition Board supports Adna School District
Centralia, Wash. The Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $808,326.00 to support the Adna School/Community Gymnasium Project. The school district recognized a need for more gym space with increased student enrollment and community growth. Over the years the school district was able to meet their needs by renting various facilities. The funding from the Centralia Coal Transition Board will help allow the school district to complete the construction of a 70’x105’ gymnasium with accompanying restrooms, backstops, scoreboards, spectator seating and a sound system, making the building available for school and community events.
The Adna School District sits midway between Portland and Seattle and is located five miles west of the I-5 corridor and the twin cities of Chehalis and Centralia. The district can be described as diverse, with a traditional agricultural base and close-knit community. Community support is strong with members actively participating and partnering with the schools.
The district student enrollment is approximately 650 with a graduating class generally in the 60s. Graduates have been successful in many different areas including medicine, education, arts, and trades.
The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as part of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington to transition the Centralia plant away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025.
Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:
Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due December 31, 2023. The opportunity to start flowing dollars into projects became effective December 31, 2015.
Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;
Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;
Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Centralia Coal Transition Board
Supports Baseball Field Renovation at W.F. West High School
Centralia, Wash. The Economic & Community Development Board approved a grant award in the amount of $120,000 to support renovation of the W.F. West Baseball Field to include upgrades to the drainage system and turf installation. The Chehalis Foundation and Chehalis School District entered a partnership to renovate a field which not only serves the W.F. West High School Bearcats but serves the baseball community in Lewis County. The new drainage systems and addition of synthetic turf infield and outfield will enable the field to be used in early spring and extended use in the fall months expanding its use to include youth baseball tournaments.
The Chehalis Foundation has worked with the community, educators, and city leadership to raise funding for this project. The grant amount funded by the coal transition board helps to reach the final fundraising efforts.
The Chehalis Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community foundation that supports the city, community, and academic excellence in Chehalis Schools. To date, the Chehalis Foundation has raised over 20 million dollars from generous contributors and has completed over 30 projects.
The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as part of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington to transition the Centralia plant away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025.
Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:
Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due December 31, 2023. The opportunity to start flowing dollars into projects became effective December 31, 2015.
Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;
Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;
Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
Centralia Coal Transition Board Supports Pre-employment Training Services for Youth in Lewis County
Centralia, Wash. The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $7,700.00 to the Morningside organization. The grant will be used to support the Lewis County Pre-employment Training Services program which offers youth ages 14-21 who utilize Individual Education Plans or 504 Plan services to complete work readiness activities, work-based learning activities, as well as paid internships.
The Pre-employment Training Services is a new program that began in January 2021. In partnership with school districts and the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation the program is designed to help students with disabilities that are not being served by other programs. The program currently serves high school students in Pe Ell, Onalaska, Morton, Randle, Napavine, Chehalis and Centralia and is designed to accommodate each individual students’ needs and abilities and to progress at their own speed based on their interests.
Morningside’s mission is to provide the training, coaching, and employment services that build the self-sufficiency and self-esteem of people with disabilities; to transform lives for people with disabilities by removing significant barriers to employment and providing an infrastructure of personalized support. Since 1963, Morningside has been helping change the lives of individuals with significant disabilities by matching their skill and interest in jobs in the community. They now operate in six counties in Western Washington (Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Pierce.)
The Economic & Community Development Board was formed as a result of the 2011 Agreement between TransAlta and the state of Washington to transition the Centralia Plant away from coal-fired operations with one unit retiring at the end of 2020 and the second unit at the end of 2025. The company is investing $55 million into Lewis and South Thurston Counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.
Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards: Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due December 31, 2023. Weatherization Board ($10M): established to fund energy efficiency and weatherization for the residents, employees, business, non-profit organizations and local governments within Lewis County and South Thurston County; up to $1 million shall be allocated to fund residential energy efficiency and weatherization measures for low-income and moderate-income residents of Lewis County and South Thurston County;
Economic & Community Development Board ($20M): established to fund education, retraining, economic development, and community enhancement; at least $5M shall be allocated to fund education, retraining and economic development specifically targeting the needs of workers displaced from the Centralia facility;
Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.
