Rocky Mountain Power educates

Many residents in Carbon County know of Rocky Mountain Power through either their utility bill or the windmill farms north of the county. But there is a strong chance not many people know of the company’s effort to help communities that Rocky Mountain Power considers neighbors.

The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is a nonprofit arm of Rocky Mountain Power. Currently the non-profit is donating more than $460,000 in new grant funding across the three states it serves. The grants support organizations that provide education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) learning opportunities. The grants underwrite a wide variety of needed resources in large and small communities; from financial literacy classes and early educational intervention programs to last-minute childcare centers that can help parents attend a job interview or work an extra shift.

“These organizations are doing the important work of supporting Wyoming families and communities,” said Sharon Fain, Rocky Mountain Power Vice President, Wyoming. “It is an honor to contribute to their work and know Rocky Mountain Power’s investments are building resiliency and boosting the growth and vitality of the communities we serve.” 

The latest round of education grants closely aligns with the priorities Rocky Mountain Power places on enhancing access and availability of STEM programs; especially to underserved populations, and supports learning for both youth and adults inside and outside of the classroom. These education and STEM grants are one of four grant cycles offered by the foundation annually.

Besides grants for Education/Stem, which are due March 15, there are grants for Community Enhancement and Environment Respect both due June 15. Arts/Culture grants are due September 15 and grants given for Safety/Wellness are due by December 5.

Education/STEM grants cover topics such as: electrical safety, energy efficiency education, higher education institutions, K-12, literacy and reading programs, STEM education initiatives, teacher/professional educator development, workforce development/careers and employability and youth development. 

The following eight grants totaling $76,900 were given to local organizations supporting eastern Wyoming communities. 

These organizations included Ark Regional Services to support the Language Arts and Literacy Program which provides an inclusive and diverse learning environment for 80 adults with developmental disabilities living in Albany County.

Quantum Science Camp at Casper College received funds to help cover expenses for a program that brings a physicist to work with local high school students.

Raising Readers in Wyoming was given funds for the purchase of new books that will be distributed for free to children throughout the state, including families experiencing low incomes, Native American children and children from racial and ethnic minority groups.

The foundation gave money to the University of Wyoming Foundation for curriculum and programs that promote community engagement and support today’s as well as foster tomorrow’s workforce.

In Hanna, the foundation gave funds to Wee Folks Place so that more scholarships can be given to families with low incomes. This will allow access to preschool education in Carbon County.

Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom was included in this disbursement, to support Wyoming Stewardship Project professional development training for teachers enabling them to help students in grades 2 to 5 learn about Wyoming’s natural resources and economy.

The Wyoming Women’s Business Center received financial help to provide education and counseling for Wyoming entrepreneurs, who are economically or socially disadvantaged.

The Community Enhancement grants help with affordable housing, community resilience, community recreation centers, economic development, libraries, monuments, memorials and science centers.

Environmental Respect grants are for projects and programs that deal with animal and wildlife biodiversity; carbon and methane emissions, conservation of natural resources, environmental management systems, parks, trails, gardens, resource stewardship, waste management reduction and water usage management.

Arts and Culture can help arts festivals, cultural heritage, museums, music, theater/drama and visual arts.

Safety and Wellness grants help those programs that work with addiction, disability resources, disaster relief, domestic violence, first responders, food insecurity, healthcare accessibility, homeless support, mental health, public safety initiatives, veteran organizations, wellness and preventive care.

According to David Eskelsen, Rocky Mountain Power Public Relations, The Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is part of the PacifiCorp Foundation–one of the largest utility endowed foundations in the United States. The foundation was created by PacifiCorp, an electric utility serving two million customers in six Western states as Rocky Mountain Power (Utah, Wyoming and Idaho) and Pacific Power (Oregon, Washington and California).

The foundation’s mission, through charitable investments, is to support the growth and vitality of the communities served by Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power. Since it started in 1988, the PacifiCorp Foundation has awarded more than $60 million to nonprofit organizations. 

“I would also like to point out that the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is endowed,” Eskelsen said. “This was started years ago, so the funds come from an original endowment.”

Eskelsen said it takes time for the foundation to go through all the proposals when they are received by their due date.

Eskelsen said. “We want to help as many projects as we can.”

He said foundation’s website has information on how to apply for the grants.

“There are even tips to help in putting forth the application,” Eskelsen said. “We want to help our neighbors and the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation is a good way.”