Winneshiek Energy District gets special $10,000 grant from Community Foundations

(Left to right): Winneshiek Energy District and Winneshiek County Community Foundation representatives Chad Bird, Gary Mineart, Andy Johnson, Craig Mosher, Julie Wurtzel and Jim Anderson.

The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Winneshiek Energy District for its Winneshiek Shared Solar Collaborative project.
 
"This grant is a tremendous boost at a critical time, supporting ongoing technical and legal needs and sending a loud and clear message on the value of keeping our energy – and energy dollars – local," said Winneshiek Energy District Director Andy Johnson.   Johnson added, "Locally owned solar energy is truly a win-win all round, contributing to local economies and a healthier environment."

The Winneshiek Shared Solar Collaborative project is an effort to pursue the creation of a large-scale solar photovoltaic array involving local public and non-taxable entities in Winneshiek County.
 
This grant is one of ten $10,000 grants awarded to nonprofit projects in counties where the Foundation partners with one of its 24 affiliate community foundations.  Winneshiek County Community Foundation is an affiliate of CFNEIA.
 
Winneshiek County Community Foundation chair Gary Mineart said, "The partnership between the Winneshiek County Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa is powerful and allows us to do even more good in our local communities, forever."