business | Pexels by Elena Yunina
business | Pexels by Elena Yunina
The City of Carbondale has been selected to receive an $80,707 grant from the Energy Transition Community Grant Program! As part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is awarding $40 million in grants to more than 50 local entities that have been impacted by fossil fuel plant or coal mine closures or significant reductions.
“The fossil fuel industry has historically played a vital role in the region’s economy,” said Steven Mitchell, Economic Development Director for the City of Carbondale. “The jobs that the industry provided offered a living wage, benefits, and a path to a better life for generations of Southern Illinoisans. The flexibility built into the grant program provides us an opportunity to begin addressing some of the issues that the loss of those jobs has created in our local economy.”
The City of Carbondale will soon be reaching out to identify dates to meet with stakeholders to solicit input and consult with community members to find the best way to support those most impacted by fossil fuel plant or coal mine closures.
After consulting with a diverse set of stakeholders, the City of Carbondale will develop a detailed plan for the grant funding, including a project design and budget which outlines specific intended uses for the grant funds.
The Energy Transition Community Grant Program was designed to meet the needs of individual localities by addressing the economic and social impacts of plant closures. The funding can be used on a variety of initiatives and investments, including workforce development, housing support, business attraction efforts, and more.
For more information, contact the City of Carbondale at 618-457-3262.
“Carbondale prides itself on providing its visitors, students, businesses and residents with a unique mix of edge and ease. It’s a cultural town, yet free of pretense, embracing the great outdoors as readily as urban sophistication. Here, we are open to new ideas, experiences and cultures, so you are encouraged to both express yourself and be yourself, in all ways. That’s Carbondale…All Ways Open… for family, fun, business, new ideas and a bright tomorrow.”
Original source can be found here.
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