Centralia Coal Transition Board Awards Grant to Centralia Youth Sports
Centralia, Wash. (September 8, 2025) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $90,000.00 to support the Centralia Youth Sports program. The grant funding will support the youth football and cheerleading league franchise startup costs for youth attending the Centralia Public School as well as Home School and Private School students K-8th grade who live in the Centralia Community. The organization will provide not only the equipment needed for program but sports attire, safety kit items, and full player scholarships for those youth who are unable to pay the standard player fee. Additional funding to support the program comes from membership fees and fundraising events.
Centralia Youth Sports is a nonprofit organization, founded in the fall of 2023 and is committed to raising funds to provide organized sports opportunities for K-12 Centralia athletes. With a focus on development, and community connection, the organization strives to empower children to play, compete and grow through athletics.
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.