Grant Recipients Archives - Page 12 of 15 - Centralia Coal Transition Grants

Grant Recipients

Coal Transition Board Funds Student Achievement Initiative, Website

Grant Value 200,000.00

Contact: coaltransitionboards@transalta.com

Grant will build on academic excellence while strengthening our local economy

Centralia, (October 11, 2018) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board (“ECD Board”) is pleased to announce it has approved a $200,000 grant to the Chehalis Foundation to support an initiative to further post-secondary education opportunities for youth. The initiative is intended to support the Foundation’s goal to have 60% of 2022 Chehalis graduates go on to earn a technical or college degree or acceptance into an apprenticeship to make them career ready.

“The Chehalis school district along with Centralia College are teaming to dramatically increase the number of local students going on to earn vocational or college degrees after high school through the Student Achievement Initiative (SAI)” said Tim Sayler, Chehalis Foundation President. “Ninety percent of the W.F. West class of 2018 were admitted to college or vocational school. The Chehalis Foundation is very grateful for the Centralia Coal Transition Board donation of $200,000 toward the SAI. We will use these funds strategically to match part of the Orin Smith endowment so that the funds will go twice as far.”

The Chehalis Foundation pursues academic excellence in Chehalis schools and supports the City of Chehalis. The Beyond K-12 Student Achievement Initiative aims to prepare every W.F. West graduate to be career and college ready. To achieve this goal, the Chehalis Foundation partners with the Chehalis School District, Centralia College, the Orin Smith Family Foundation and community donors.

“The partnerships the Chehalis Foundation has formed over the years and their investments are helping to ensure that when students graduate from high school, they have a direction toward a career”, said Jeff Yanish, ECD Board member. “Business leaders in our state have shown support for the Student Achievement Initiative citing that the initiative directly ties to economic development because many of these students will become tomorrow’s local workforce. The better their K-12 education and the more they progress in vocational schools or college the more attractive our area will be to employers. We see this opportunity not only as supporting education but building on academic excellence through various community partnerships and strengthening our local economy.”

The ECD 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 shutting down 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 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 Economic & Community Development Board invests in economic growth at the Port of Chehalis, Website

Grant Value 650,000.00

For immediate release

Centralia, (September 20, 2018) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board (“ECD Board”) is pleased to announce it has approved a grant to the Port of Chehalis to support economic growth. The board approved a grant in the amount of $650,000 to support the construction of an affordable, flexible space suitable for small businesses and startups in the industrial, manufacturing, and technology industries on port-owned land in the Chehalis Industrial Park. The proposed site has already been filled and graded, a road has been constructed and utilities are ready to serve the site.

“A project that supports job opportunities falls well within the mission of the ECD Board,” said Lori Schmitt, member of the ECD Board. “There will be job opportunities to build the facility and if all goes as planned, the building will have tenants within a year. The board is looking forward to the commencement of construction and hearing that leases are being signed.”

Port Commission President Mark Anders said “The Port of Chehalis is very appreciative and thankful for this additional support. These funds will allow us to build a much bigger facility than originally planned, which will accommodate more jobs and give a bigger boost to the local economy. Next year more people will be coming to work every day at their jobs in this new building in McBride Court at the Chehalis Industrial Park, all thanks to the additional support from the Centralia Coal Transition Grants”.

The Port of Chehalis was established in 1986 by a vote of the people and is one of 75 public port districts in Washington State. The mission of the Port of Chehalis is to grow and diversify the local economy, and to foster high quality job creation.

Overview of the 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.

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.

Media Inquiries:

Email: coaltransitionboards@transalta.com

Centralia Coal Transition Economic & Community Development Board supports public safety through the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Website

Grant Value 116,836.56

September 13, 2018

The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board (“ECD Board”) is pleased to announce it has approved a grant to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office to support public safety goals. The board approved a grant in the amount of $116,836.56 to purchase replacement radios for deputies. Deputies use their portable radio to respond to calls, manage scenes and disasters, confirm their status during contacts, coordinate crime scenes and traffic collisions using the radios.

“The board views this funding opportunity as one that enhances community partnerships and benefits the citizens of Lewis County” said Jeff Yanish, a member of the Economic & Community Development Board. “The safety of our law enforcement and the public is very important to me, not only as a board member but as a member of our local community. Having reliable communication between deputies, agencies and the public can help reduce risk during critical events.”

The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office is a community partner that helps to make Lewis County a safe and secure place to live, work and go to school. The Sheriff’s Office employs a total of 109 employees, serves a current estimated population of 77,066, all located within approximately 2,403 square miles, and provides law enforcement services 24 hours a day

“We strive for community partnership and are thankful for the gracious grant funding provided by The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board” said Sheriff Robert R. Snaza. “We could not be more appreciative for this generous contribution that we will put to good use providing essential equipment for our deputies.”

Overview of the 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.

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

For more information on the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards visit: http://cctgrants.com

Media Inquiries:

Email: coaltransitionboards@transalta.com

Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board supports student housing improvements, Website

Grant Value 95,284.00

For immediate release

Centralia, (September 6, 2018) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Weatherization Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant to upgrade a 20-unit apartment complex which is occupied with student tenants attending Centralia College. The added benefit to these weatherization and energy efficiency improvements will be a reduction in utility bills for students and, creating a more comfortable living environment as students spend time focusing on their education.

The grant amount of $95,284 will be used to replace old, single-pane, aluminum-framed windows and hollow-core exterior doors with new double-pane, energy-efficient, vinyl-framed windows and new, solid-core insulated doors. By improving the existing infrastructure, the college is not only supporting their energy efficiency goals but improving the comfort and safety of students.

“When board members discuss applications submitted to the Weatherization Board, the primary consideration is whether the project aligns with the mission of the Weatherization Board,” said Lori Schmitt, Weatherization Board Member. “This project aligns with the board mission. The project provides cost-effective, weatherization solutions that demonstrate permanent energy savings. With this application we found that being able to fund a project that is going to put some money back into a student’s pocket is another benefit to approving the application.”

The Weatherization 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 shutting down in December 2020 and the second unit in December 2025.

“While new facilities constructed by the college are extremely energy efficient, bringing the older buildings up to similar performance levels is challenging and expensive” said Steve Ward, Vice President, Finance and Administration, at Centralia College. “The Weatherization grant provided Centralia College the ability to make significant progress toward sustainability goals and reducing energy consumption. It also helped extend the useful life of a 50-year-old building by making it more efficient and safer. The community is fortunate to have access to funds that allow this type of work to be done. We are very grateful to the Weatherization Board for considering this project among many for funding.”

Founded in 1925, Centralia College is the oldest, continuous operating college in the state of Washington. Centralia College is now a 30-acre campus located in the center of Centralia that sees an average annual enrollment of 10,500 students served by approximately 260 full-time employees.

Overview of the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards:

Annual payments for the funding boards began in 2012 with the last payment due Dec. 31, 2023. The opportunity to start flowing dollars into projects became effective December 31, 2015.

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

For more information on the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards visit: http://cctgrants.com

Media Inquiries:

Email: coaltransitionboards@transalta.com

TransAlta Coal Transition Board Supports The Onalaska High School Aquaculture Program, Website

Grant Value 23,500.00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Centralia, Wash. (August 15, 2018) – The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board (“ECD Board”) is pleased to announce it has approved a grant in the amount of $23,500 to the Onalaska School District to support their unique Aquaculture Program. The students of this program raise, rear and release approximately 35,000 Steelhead, 100,000 Coho Salmon, and 9,000 Rainbow Trout into the Newaukum River Basin and the Carlisle Lake. Their work along with the partnerships they have established with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force, and the Chehalis Tribe provides not only an educational experience, but a community opportunity for youth fishing events.

“This is a project that gives students an opportunity to witness first hand their work and allows them to enhance relationships with their partners” said Lori Schmitt, ECD Board Member. “Students will learn from this program, develop relationships with the agencies they work with and create an opportunity to support their local community. These are all areas the board considers when reviewing applications which have an educational opportunity. We are looking forward to hearing more about the operations of this program and seeing the results.”

Under the agreement between TransAlta and the State of Washington to transition the Centralia facility off coal, TransAlta is investing $55 million into the local community and the state of Washington. To date, TransAlta has awarded approximately $13.9 million through its coal transition grant boards.

The funding from the ECD Board will support the completion of a second hatchery building which will be used as a Rainbow Trout rearing facility capable of producing 200 three-pound Rainbow trout each year which will be planted in Carlisle Lake for recreational fishing. All students of Onalaska High School have an opportunity to participate in this project of raising the trout from eggs to adults and in performing all hatchery operations needed to achieve a successful project.

“As a teacher, having spent eight years in the Aquaculture field working for private, state and tribal hatcheries, my goal is to teach each student the basics of Aquaculture, and more importantly the critical thinking and teamwork needed to maintain the program” said Kevin Hoffman, Aquaculture Teacher for the Onalaska School District. “The students are excited and appreciative of this funding by the ECD Board.”

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.

Energy Technology Board ($25M): established to fund energy technologies with the potential to create environmental benefits to the state of Washington.

For more information on the Centralia Coal Transition Funding Boards visit: http://cctgrants.com.