COLUMBIA, ME – October 1, 2020 – Apex Clean Energy and Downeast Wind are pleased to announce the opening of the Fall 2020 grant cycle for the Downeast Wind Community Grant Program.

Grants are typically awarded in $250 to $4,000 increments, with priority given to grants that demonstrate meaningful impacts to the greatest number of area residents. We will be accepting applications until November 20, 2020 on our website: www.downeastwindfarm.com/grant

The program was launched this past spring to help organizations in the Town of Columbia and the broader Washington County community. During the Spring 2020 grant cycle the program supported a number of programs, some of which are listed below:

• A $2,500 grant to the Downeast Campus of the Maine Seacoast Mission to support the organization’s Mission 2020 COVID-19 Response Project.
• A $500 grant to the Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center to help continue its use of HIPPA compliant Zoom software to offer online programming to the people served by the Center throughout Washington County.
• A $500 grant to Women for Healthy Rural Living to expand public vegetable gardens and education initiatives designed to create a community that is stronger, healthier, and more food independent.

The goal of the grant program is to support projects and programs that build healthy communities, create economic opportunity, encourage environmental sustainability, and promote 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. Applicants must demonstrate how the program or event contributes to these social goals.
  
  
• Economic Development – Apex Clean Energy supports and encourages the entrepreneurial spirit. It is part of our mission to serve as a catalyst for economic opportunity and development within the communities where we operate.
  
  
• Environmental Sustainability – Programs that possess a strong link to environmental revitalization, sustainability, or education, and 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 training programs for careers in the wind industry. This may include curriculum development, literacy, school readiness, and other initiatives that help students grow into young leaders. Vocational training institutions that help build a skilled workforce are also included and encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions about the grant program, please contact Brian O’Shea at [email protected] or by phone at (952) 393-2986.