Putnam RISE awarded $100K Envision 2011 grant

Friday, October 8, 2010
Putnam RISE was selected to receive a $100,000 grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation. Pictured are members of the organization's partners, which include City of Greencastle Commission on Sustainability, North Putnam Community School Corporation, South Putnam Community School Corporation, Cloverdale Community School Corporation, Greencastle Community School Corporation, Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, Greencastle Presbyterian Church, Greencastle Civic League, Shuee & Sons Great Buys Plus, The Window Place, Smiley's Heating & Air-Conditioning, and Insulation Supply Co.

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Community Foundation has awarded its $100,000 Envision 2011 grant to Putnam RISE, an initiative of the Greencastle Sustainability Commission.

After much deliberation by the Community Foundation Board of Directors and Grants Committee, it was determined that the Putnam RISE grant proposal met all of the criteria and created a wave of excitement in the community that the Foundation is proud to support.

Putnam RISE (Renewal, Investment, Savings and Efficiency) proposes to educate county citizens about ways to become more energy efficient and stimulate the local economy through energy efficiency investments in schools, neighborhoods, and homes.

The group seeks to produce double digit decreases in energy consumption in Putnam County school facilities; secure energy savings through cash incentives for resource-challenged schools; obtain over 2,000 home energy savings pledges; provide 100 residential energy audits; conduct a "Green Home Makeover" program that will select one low-income household to receive $15,000 in energy efficiency upgrades; and weatherize 21 homes.

"We hope to create a distinctive community model for others across the region and the nation to follow," said Steve Setchell, Chair of the Greencastle Commission on Sustainability.

"Putnam RISE will help the entire community buy local, conserve energy, and save money," says Eric Wolfe, Director of Community Development for the Putnam County Community Foundation. "The Community Foundation is excited to make this grant and be a large part of impact that will be made over the next year and beyond."

Putnam RISE partners include the City of Greencastle Commission on Sustainability, North Putnam Community School Corporation, South Putnam Community School Corporation, Cloverdale Community School Corporation, Greencastle Community School Corporation, Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, Greencastle Presbyterian Church, Greencastle Civic League, Shuee & Sons Great Buys Plus, The Window Place, Smiley's Heating & Air-Conditioning, and Insulation Supply Co.

This impressive group of county-wide organizations in the for-profit, non-profit and faith-based communities will work together over the next year to implement the Envision 2011 grant proposal.

On hand at the Envision 2011 grant announcement, was Mark Miller of the Vectren Foundation, who announced an additional grant award of $25,000 from Vectren. Miller noted that Vectren was pleased to support this project and looked forward to seeing it being used as a model across the state and country.

In February, the Putnam County Community Foundation announced the availability of up to $100,000 for one creative charitable project or program that would make a significant difference to the entire county in the areas of economic development and/or education. Four applications were received by the June 1: deadline from Putnam RISE, the Putnam County Public Library, The Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center and the United Way of Putnam County.

All four applications proposed distinctly unique and impactful programs. In August, the field was narrowed to two finalists: Putnam RISE and the Putnam County Public Library.

Putnam RISE will receive their first grant check in January and will report quarterly to the Community Foundation on the measurable impact they are making. Reports to the community will be made throughout 2011 on the progress of the grant project.

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  • Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Seldom do these "pie in the sky" ideas come to fruition. We will see in the next year if this $100,000 was a good investment or another waste of money.

    -- Posted by not gullible on Fri, Oct 8, 2010, at 9:46 AM
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