Cincinnati, Ohio (August 12, 2021 –We received a $40,000 grant from Duke Energy Foundation to create powerful communities in Bond Hill and Roselawn through our small business assistance program. We are one of the organizations in Ohio to collectively receive $250,000 in grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. These urban revitalization grants help Greater Cincinnati neighborhoods through programs that bring jobs and growth to our region. Our program will feature a three-pronged approach in order to deliver small business assistance. The first step is business retention and outreach, making sure that we find out and understand the specific needs and concerns of existing businesses in these communities. Next, we will provide free one-on-one business coaching. This service will be available for existing businesses and to anyone in the community interested in starting their own business. Finally, the third point of delivery will be educational outreach. We will offer training based on neighborhood business and entrepreneur needs. “We are excited to help strengthen the small business communities in Bond Hill and Roselawn. Small businesses not only provide jobs in communities but also contribute to the quality of life for residents”, said VP of Economic Development Catherine Fitzgerald.
“Our urban corridors and main streets are critical to the vitality of our local communities, but they have been adversely impacted by the pandemic,” said Amy Spiller, President, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “Through our Urban Revitalization grants, we are part of the long-term solutions our neighborhoods need to spur development and succeed.”
The Duke Energy Foundation’s Powerful Communities program makes strategic investments to build powerful communities where our natural resources thrive, students can excel and a talented workforce drives economic prosperity for all. The Foundation annually funds more than $30 million to communities throughout Duke Energy’s seven-state service area.
DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities
where Duke Energy’s customers live and work. The foundation contributes more than $30
million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More
information about the foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 125 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers’ experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit’s regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina,
South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2019 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ 2018 “America’s Best Employers” list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos, and other materials. Duke Energy’s illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics, and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, Linked In, Instagram and Facebook.
