NIPSCO announced today the recipients of its 2022 Environmental Action Grant program, which awarded $69,100 to 17 local organizations that applied for the funding earlier this year.
In its seventh year, NIPSCO’s Environmental Grant program has donated more than $392,000 to date, helping 109 projects come to fruition across northern Indiana. This year’s projects focus on pollinators of all shapes and sizes including monarch butterflies, bluebirds and bees, use of native plants for sustainable food sources and habitats, as well as corresponding education programs for communities and citizens of all ages. Additionally, funding is provided to support the airing of an environmental documentary on public media, and for special environmental-related community events.
The 2022 NIPSCO Environmental Action Grant winners include:
- The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, East Chicago Monarch Festival, $5,000
- Lakeshore Public Media, Share Shifting Sands documentary, $5,000
- The Watershed Foundation, Deeds Creek Dam Removal and Habitat Restoration Project, $5,000
- Art Barn School of Art, Inc., Monarch Habitat Revitalization, $5,000
- Christ Lutheran Church, Southern Bioswale Native Garden for Butterflies, Pollinators and Birds, $1,500
- LC Nature Park, Prairie & Wetland Seeding Project, $5,000
- Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana-Michiana, It’s Your Planet-Love It!, $2,200
- Elkhart Environmental Center, Envirofest, $5,000
- Izaak Walton League’s Porter County Chapter, Gene Clifford Bluebird Trail, $5,000
- Humane Indiana, Environmental and Wildlife Education Center, $5,000
- Dunes Learning Center, Buds for Butterflies and Bees in the Indiana Dunes, $5,000
- Jasper County Economic Development Organization, Take A Hike programming, $1,200
- United Way of Miami County, Recycled Plarn Sleeping Mats, $5,000
- Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest, Native Plant & Monarch Waystation Garden Restoration, $4,850
- Coolspring Citizen’s Association, Coolspring Elementary Tree Planting and Education, $850
- The Wetlands Initiative, Collaborative Habitat Restoration and Community Engagement, $5,000
- DeKalb County Soil & Water Conservation District, Community Pollinator Habitat Development, $3,500
“We are proud to provide funds to local organizations dedicated to supporting and revitalizing our environment,” said Rick Calinski, NIPSCO Director of Public Affairs and Economic Development. “Conserving the environment in our service territory is an integral part of our mission to make a positive difference in northern Indiana.”
In addition to Environmental Action Grant funding, NIPSCO works to establish early successional pollinator habitat on rights of way, forges partnerships with community organizations for restoration efforts and supports the planting of thousands of trees in northern Indiana each year.
To learn more about what NIPSCO is doing to support the environment, visit NIPSCO.com/Environment.
About NIPSCO:
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), with headquarters in Merrillville, Indiana, has proudly served the energy needs of northern Indiana for more than 100 years. As Indiana’s largest natural gas distribution company and the second-largest electric distribution company, NIPSCO serves approximately 820,000 natural gas and 470,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s (NYSE: NI) six regulated utility companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.7 million natural gas and electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands.
More information about NIPSCO and NiSource is available at NIPSCO.com and NiSource.com.
