Columbia Gas of Ohio Launches Expanded Environmental Action Grant Program
The utility company, backed by the NiSource Charitable Foundation, is now accepting applications for grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support local environmental initiatives.
Columbus, OH – Columbia Gas of Ohio is bolstering its commitment to environmental stewardship with the launch of an expanded Environmental Action Grant program. Supported by the NiSource Charitable Foundation, the annual program will provide funding for local environmental restoration and education projects and programs. Applications are being accepted now through April 3, with grant recipients announced the week of April 20 in alignment with Earth Day.
“As a utility company, we know firsthand how important it is to prioritize initiatives that help create and sustain a healthy environment,” stated a senior official from Columbia Gas of Ohio. The program aims to strengthen communities by investing in projects that protect natural resources and promote environmental responsibility.
NiSource, the parent company of Columbia Gas and Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), is extending the program’s reach beyond its initial footprint. The Environmental Action Grant program originated at NIPSCO in Indiana, where approximately $700,000 has been awarded to over 170 projects in the past decade. This year marks a significant expansion, bringing the opportunity to NiSource’s operating companies across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.
According to Reggie Fields, Executive Director of the NiSource Charitable Foundation, the program has a proven track record of fostering impactful community partnerships. “We’ve seen this program support small, local projects that grew into meaningful, long-term community partnerships,” Fields said. “By expanding this program across every community we serve, we’re creating space for new ideas and relationships that strengthen environmental stewardship with benefits lasting well beyond that initial grant.”
To be eligible for funding, organizations must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit or otherwise recognized by the Internal Revenue Service and propose an environmentally focused project. Grant funding will not be allocated to capital projects or related purchases. Selected organizations will receive grants ranging from $500 to $5,000.
Interested applicants can find more information and submit their applications at https://www.columbiagasohio.com/our company/about-us/columbia-cares/environmental-action-grant. Applicants should select ‘Yes’ when prompted with “Are you applying for an Environmental Action Grant?” in the application’s introductory dropdown menu. All applications must include a detailed project description, clearly defined goals, a comprehensive budget, the intended target audience, a project timeline, and a robust evaluation method.
Applications will be evaluated based on several key criteria, including strategic alignment with program goals, resource availability, potential for visibility and recognition, the anticipated impact of the project or program, and the organization’s overall priorities. This expanded grant program represents a significant investment in the environmental health of communities served by Columbia Gas of Ohio and NiSource.
