Since 1999, Enterprise for Equity, or E4E, has been helping people with limited income in Olympia, Washington, have access to training, support and financial resources to grow their small businesses.
Now, thanks to a grant from Puget Sound Energy’s Powerful Partners program, it and other nonprofits in the utility’s service area can help more of their clients’ dreams come true.
“Their generous donation allows us to empower BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities, rural entrepreneurs, veterans and creatives with the resources they need to thrive by building businesses anchored in the triple bottom line principles of people, planet and prosperity,” said Beth Henriquez, E4E’s executive director. “Together, we’re building a future where dreams and economic opportunity flourish in every corner of our region.”
Building on its long history of community involvement, Puget Sound Energy is distributing $150,000 this year across 12 organizations within its service area as part of its Powerful Partners program. Typically awarded to nonprofits, for the first time this year recipients also include nonprofits focused on supporting small businesses. E4E was one of the first Powerful Partners from the small-business sector.
The monetary grant is not the only benefit. PSE also partners with these organizations to share useful information with their clients, employees and donors on ways to save energy and money on their bills and decrease their carbon emissions. PSE works with partner organizations throughout the year to review their energy efficiency and clean energy goals, finding opportunities to help them streamline energy use. The utility also looks for educational prospects that might help reduce their customers’ overall energy burden and help them in their quest for cleaner energy.
Since the program’s inception in 2016, PSE has partnered with 92 organizations and donated a total of $980,000.
The initial intention of the Powerful Partners program was to reach residential customers through their trusted community partners. However, because many small businesses also operate in the same communities they serve, this year, PSE decided to expand the program to include this sector.
According to PSE, by helping these companies reduce energy use and invest in cleaner energy, the businesses can continue to thrive and support the communities they serve.
“We’re excited to work with these leading organizations to support their clean energy journey while also supporting equity within the hometowns we are privileged to serve,” said Aaron August, PSE senior vice president, chief customer and transformation officer. “Small businesses are the keystone to our communities; we’re thrilled to expand our contribution to this sector in support of our collective clean energy future.”