September 30, 2021 – The Duke Energy Foundation distributed $750,000 in grants to help local businesses across North Carolina – from restaurants to retailers – adapt to the unprecedented challenges caused by the pandemic. The Alexander County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) was one of 30 recipients of a $25,000 Hometown Revitalization Grant.
The total represents a 50 percent increase over the $500,000 in funding announced in April due to the breadth and quality of the funding applications. As a result, the Hometown Revitalization Grant program will now support 30 communities throughout the state rather than the original 20 planned at the program’s inception.
“After our success in supporting the Downtown Raleigh Alliance, which was the model for this program, we knew that a series of targeted grants could do wonders to help North Carolina businesses and storefronts recover,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy’s North Carolina president. “We were astounded by the number and quality of the applications, so we decided to increase the foundation’s commitment and help even more downtown communities bounce back.”
Each community was awarded $25,000 through a partnership with these local 501(c)(3)-administering nonprofits. The administering entity will establish a small-business support microgrant program to deploy the funding within their local community. Microgrants may range from $500 to $2,500 per individual business.
“The Duke Energy Hometown Revitalization Grant couldn’t come at a better time. With the economic conditions resulting from the pandemic, these funds will help those who need it most,” said David Icenhour, Executive Director of the Alexander County EDC. “The Duke Energy grant will go a long way in helping our small businesses recover. We look forward to disbursing these funds and seeing the benefits that result.”
Small businesses in Alexander County (50 employees or less) which have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are eligible to apply for the grant. Applications must be received by October 22, 2021. Awards will be announced on November 3, 2021. For additional details and access to the grant application, visit www.bitly.com/hometown-revitalization-grant.
The Hometown Revitalization Grants were awarded to the following 30 community organizations:
• Alexander County Economic Development Corporation – Alexander County
• Clayton Chamber Foundation – Johnston County
• Coalicion Latinoamericana – Mecklenburg County
• Davie Community Foundation – Davie County
• Downtown Washington on the Waterfront – Beaufort County
• Downtown North Wilkesboro Partnership – Wilkes County
• Downtown Southport – Brunswick County
• Eden Downtown Development – Rockingham County
• Elevents – Henderson County
• Fuquay-Varina Downtown Association – Wake County
• Gibsonville Garden Railroad – Guilford County
• Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team (GREAT) – Graham County
• Jones County Committee of 100 – Jones County
• Laurinburg Downtown Advisory Committee – Scotland County
• Lincoln Economic Development Association – Lincoln County
• Mitchell County Development Foundation – Mitchell County
• Nantahala Health Foundation – Cherokee County
• Polk County Chamber Foundation – Polk County
• Pride of Kinston – Lenoir County
• Reidsville Downtown Corporation – Rockingham County
• Renaissance Downtown Durham – Durham County
• Rutherford Town Revitalization – Rutherford County
• Salisbury Community Development Corporation – Rowan County
• Sanford-Lee County Partnership for Prosperity Foundation – Lee County
• Surry County Economic Development Foundation – Surry County
• United Way of Richmond County – Richmond County
• Uptown Roxboro Group – Person County
• Wallace Revitalization Association – Duplin County
• Wilmington Downtown – New Hanover County
• Working Landscapes – Warren County
Quotes from each on the impact of the grants can be found at www.duke-energy.com/_/media/pdfs/external/hometown-revitalization-grantee-quotes.pdf.
The Hometown Revitalization grant program was inspired by a successful collaboration between the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and Duke Energy that provided nearly 100 grants to downtown Raleigh storefronts. The grants allowed the establishments the opportunity to create outdoor seating and serving opportunities, develop e-commerce websites, repair window fronts, and upgrade health and safety elements.
About the Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy 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 can be found at www.duke-energy.com/foundation.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 7.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500 people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities – with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to own or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage, and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune’s 2021 “World’s Most Admired Companies” list and Forbes’ “America’s Best Employers” list. More information about the company is available at www.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, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.