Wayland Township, MI – December 19, 2024 – Apex Clean Energy and Blazing Star Solar are pleased to announce the latest round of grants as part of the Blazing Star Solar Community Grant Program. The grant program supports organizations across Allegan County dedicated to building safe and healthy communities, fostering economic development, supporting environmental sustainability, and promoting education.
APEX CLEAN ENERGY AND BLAZING STAR SOLAR AWARD COMMUNITY GRANTS IN ALLEGAN COUNTY
Since its inception in 2022, the Blazing Star Solar Community Grant Program has awarded more than $20,000 to community organizations. Nationally, Apex has contributed over $4 million in grant funds to local programs through community grant programs across all of its projects.
During this cycle, grants were awarded to five local organizations that make a significant impact in Allegan County:
• Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes: Empowering the next generation of STEM leaders
• The Allegan County Community Foundation: Enhancing public health initiatives through innovative programs
• The Allegan Conservation District: Supporting environmental preservation and education
• The Outdoor Discovery Center Network: Safeguarding water resources through education and outreach
• Wayland Wildcats Robotics: Inspiring students with hands-on STEM experiences and competition
Junior Achievement of Michigan Great Lakes will use the grant to inspire and shape the future of middle school girls by providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to explore STEM careers. “We are deeply grateful for Apex’s support of educational experiences that empower local youth to identify, prepare for, and pursue careers in the rapidly growing and evolving STEM career fields,” said Jay D. Ediger, senior vice president of development. “We are excited to partner with the Apex team in helping young people own their future economic success!”
The Allegan County Community Foundation will launch a countywide advocacy bootcamp in alignment with the Allegan County Community Health Improvement Plan. “We are grateful for the generous support from Apex,” said Executive Director Kim Hemker. “Their investment in a countywide advocacy bootcamp will have a meaningful impact on our community and advance the initiatives of the Allegan County Community Health Improvement Plan.”
The Allegan Conservation District’s grant will fund essential equipment and supplies to further environmental sustainability and STEM education in the region.
The Outdoor Discovery Center Network will use its grant to promote educational efforts focused on surface water sustainability. “Ensuring the sustainability of our surface water resources is critical to the well-being of communities in Allegan County,” said Lexie Kasper, land and water outreach coordinator. “Apex’s grant will enable us to advance educational efforts on the challenges and solutions regarding surface water quality and quantity, safeguarding our water resources for future generations.”
Wayland Wildcats Robotics, a high school robotics team, will use the grant funds to expand STEM learning opportunities and acquire new equipment for competitions. “This grant will provide an opportunity for the Wayland Wildcats Robotics students to experience STEM in a new and exciting way that will prove invaluable in their future careers,” said Coach Rodney Killips.
Beyond supporting local nonprofits, Blazing Star Solar will contribute over 30 years of annual revenue that directly benefits families, schools, and local communities through personal property tax payments, totaling millions of dollars over the project’s lifetime.
To learn more about Blazing Star Solar and Apex Clean Energy’s efforts to support local communities and promote sustainability, visit blazingstarsolar.com.
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About Apex Clean Energy
Apex Clean Energy was founded with a singular focus: to accelerate the shift to renewable energy. Through the origination, construction, and operation of utility-scale wind, solar, and storage facilities, distributed energy resources, and green fuel technologies, Apex is expanding the renewable frontier across North America. Our mission-driven team of more than 400 professionals uses a data-focused approach and an unrivaled portfolio of projects to create solutions for the world’s most innovative and forward-thinking customers. For more information, visit apexcleanenergy.com.
About Blazing Star Solar
A project of Apex Clean Energy, Blazing Star Solar provides a new source of economic development for Allegan County, generating millions of dollars in long-term tax revenue for Wayland Township and Wayland Union Schools. The power from Blazing Star Solar will be fed into the local electric grid, helping to power over 20,000 Michigan homes with clean, homegrown energy while diversifying the state’s energy portfolio. For more information, visit blazingstarsolar.com.
Above: Recipient organizations of the latest round of grants as part of the Blazing Star Solar Community Grant Program