Centralia Coal Transition Board awards grant to Centralia Community Foundation
Centralia, Wash. (November 18, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $110,200.00 to the Centralia Community Foundation to support the addition of a new video display board at the Centralia High School Football Field. The video display board is a piece of a larger project underway at the Centralia High School’s Tiger Stadium where the turf is being replaced. The video display board will have an opportunity to generate advertising revenue, fundraising, and promote various activities and programs within the school and the community.
The mission of the Centralia Community Foundation is to provide dedicated leadership, fundraising, and a commitment to creating positive change in Centralia and the region. The Foundation partners with donors, granting agencies, and private industry to support educational enhancements and career pathways to improve the quality of life and provide future opportunities for students and citizens.
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 in Lewis and South Thurston Counties and the state of Washington through the Coal Transition Boards.
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.