Centralia Coal Transition Board Awards Grant to Morningside
Centralia, Wash. (November 12, 2024) The Centralia Coal Transition Grants Economic & Community Development Board is pleased to announce it has approved a grant award in the amount of $100,000 from the Economic & Community Development Board to support the purchase of new office space in Centralia, Washington which will enhance their ability to provide services to approximately 256 clients across Lewis County and to assist as needed when neighboring counties require support.
The new space will provide an administrative office for program staff serving Lewis County and eventually neighboring counties. It will also be used to conduct high school student workshops, client intake, training and support various services.
Morningside’s mission is to provide training, coaching, and employment services that build the self-sufficiency and self-esteem of people with disabilities. The organization has been helping to change the lives of individuals with significant disabilities since 1963 and has been recognized with various awards for their efforts to achieve advancing the employment and self-sufficiency of people living with disabilities.
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.