COLDWATER, MI – The Coldwater Solar Community Grant Program is now accepting applications from local groups and organizations for the program’s Winter 2021 grant cycle. Launched earlier this year, the program has provided more than $10,000 so far to local organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education in the Greater Coldwater community.
COLDWATER, MI – The Coldwater Solar Community Grant Program is now accepting applications from local groups and organizations for the program’s Winter 2021 grant cycle.
Launched earlier this year, the program has provided more than $10,000 so far to local organizations working to build healthy communities, increase environmental sustainability, foster economic development, and promote education in the Greater Coldwater community, including the following causes:
- A $1500 grant to Lakeland Readers are Leaders for book purchases
- A $2000 grant supporting the Coldwater Sunrise Rotary Foundation’s Promise Scholarship Program.
- A $1000 grant help the Branch District Library purchase digital tablets for its literacy program.
- A $1,000 grant to support low-income home repair through Branch County Habitat for Humanity.
- A $500 grant to support the Corner Farmers Market.
- A $500 grant supporting the Coldwater High School Interact Club’s downtown mural project.
- A $1,000 sponsorship to Coldwater Boys Soccer Team supporting the Cultural Understanding Day game against Sturgis.
- A $1,000 grant to the Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Council of Branch County to support their education and awareness programs surrounding infant sleep habits and head trauma.
- $500 to support Coldwater High School’s Interact Club in the establishment of a community garden.
- A $1,000 grant to assist in updating the Spectrum Light Lab at Children’s Museum of Branch County.
- A $500 grant supporting the City of Coldwater’s efforts to install an ADA compliant canoe and kayak launch.
Coldwater Solar is committed to being a long-term community partner for non-profits, local governments, and residents in the Greater Coldwater area. The community grant program is one way the project can make a meaningful impact in the community prior to project construction.
Grants applications are open to any individual, group, or organization servicing those in the City of Coldwater, Coldwater Township, and Ovid Township making a positive difference in one or more of four key areas: building healthy communities, economic development, environmental sustainability, and promoting education.
- Building Healthy Communities: Programs that support public health, good government, open communication, citizen resources, and/or enhance the quality of life in the community.
- Economic Development: Programs encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit and serving as a catalyst for economic opportunity and development within the community.
- Environmental Sustainability: Programs that possess a strong link to environmental revitalization, sustainability, or education, empower residents to be stewards of the environment, and/or encourage partnerships to address environmental concerns and sustainability.
- Promoting Education: Programs that support educational institutions, the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and vocational training programs. This may include curriculum development, literacy, school readiness, and other initiatives that help students grow into young leaders.
The application period for the second round of community grants will close on December 15th, 2021, though grants may be awarded prior to that date based on need. Priority will be given to grants that demonstrate meaningful ways of achieving their stated objective and make a positive difference in the lives of the greatest number of area residents.
If you are interested in applying, please visit www.Coldwatersolar.com/grant or call (517) 468-6830 with questions. Community organizations and residents of the Greater Coldwater area are encouraged to apply and help spread the word.
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About Coldwater Solar: A joint project of Apex Clean Energy and Esasolar, Coldwater Solar is a proposed utility-scale solar energy project that is expected to have the capacity to generate up to 150MW of homegrown Michigan clean energy, enough to power close to 26,000 American homes while diversifying the local economy and supporting jobs in the community.
Situated in Coldwater and Ovid Townships in rural Branch County, the location has access to existing transmission lines on open private land and is highly suitable for a solar energy project. If approved the project would create tens millions of dollars in construction spending and millions of dollars in personal property tax payments to township governments, local school districts, and Branch County over the 30-plus-year lifetime of the project.
For more information visit www.ColdwaterSolar.com