(Merrillville, IN) - In celebration of Earth Day, NIPSCO announced 21 nonprofit organizations that had won the 2024 Environmental Action Grant, to be used to support their environmental restoration projects and education efforts across northern Indiana.
Funding is provided by NIPSCO and the NiSource Charitable Foundation.
“We are honored to partner with these organizations and contribute to their innovative restoration and education projects across northern Indiana,” said Rick Calinski, NIPSCO Director of Public Affairs and Economic Development.
This year’s projects focus on native habitat restoration, wildlife research, youth nature programming, pollinator projects, water quality monitoring, rainscaping education, and woods worker safety training.
Many funded projects and programs include community engagement components, encouraging residents to give back and experience nature through stewardship and fellowship.
This year’s grant recipients include:
•The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, Festival de la Monarcha, East Chicago
•Saint Mary’s College, Campus Canopy Project’s Living Exhibition
•LaPorte County Park Foundation, Habitat Restoration Project
•Indiana Audubon Society, Chasing Melody, Lake and Jasper Counties
•Blue Heron Ministries, Lupine Meadow Expansion at Headacres Farm, Steuben County
•Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, Nat’s Nature Club
•ACRES Land Trust, Lee Family Perfect Lake Nature Preserve Habitat Restoration, Steuben County
•The Outlet Youth Center, Youth Programming, Fulton County
•The Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, Summer Youth Environmental Education, Gary
•Indiana Land Protection Alliance, Safety and Woods Worker Training Course
•Sisters of the Holy Cross, Pollinator and Monarch Waystation Habitat Establishment
•Town of Chesterton, Coffee Creek Park Pond Improvements
•DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, Invasive Species Education and Removal
•East Chicago Sanitary District-Stormwater Dept., Rain off McShane, Rain Barrel Project
•Monarch Joint Venture, Cedar Swamp Pollinator Project, Steuben County
•Little River Wetlands, Native Habitat Restoration, Allen County
•Noble County Public Library, Rainscaping Education
•Speaks for the Trees and More, Summer Nature Camp, Allen County
•St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative, Flow the St. Joe
•NICHES Land Trust, Sustainability Outreach
•Augsburg Lutheran Church, Pollinator Habitat, Porter.
In its ninth year, NIPSCO’s Environmental Action Grant has helped 143 environmental restoration and education projects come to fruition across northern Indiana, donating $577,700 to date. This year’s grants provide between $500 to $5,000 to each organization selected, for a total of $78,700 awarded.
In addition to its Environmental Action Grant program, NIPSCO works to establish early successional 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. As a result, NIPSCO has been recognized as a Tree Line USA utility by the Arbor Day Foundation.
To learn more about what NIPSCO is doing to support the environment, visit NIPSCO.com/Environment.
