Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MERRILLVILLE — Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO) and the NiSource Charitable Foundation have announced that 25 local nonprofit organizations have been chosen to receive a 2026 Environmental Action Grant.
This annual program supports local environmental restoration and education projects and programs by providing a grant of up to $5,000 to each recipient.
The organizations were chosen through a competitive process during which nonprofits submitted applications for specific community-based environmental projects that were reviewed and scored by a selection committee, according to a news release from NIPSCO. In the program’s 11-year history in Indiana, NIPSCO has awarded more than $824,000 to support nearly 200 projects.
“This is an exciting and forward-thinking opportunity for us to back innovative ideas that will bring about positive and lasting environmental change,” said Rick Calinski, director of public affairs and economic development at NIPSCO. “Also, we do not view these grants as one-time awards, but as the start of ongoing partnerships with each and every selected organization.”
A local 2026 Environmental Action Grant recipient is:
• Kosciusko County Soil & Water Conservation District, Agriculture Filter Strip Program, $5,000
“True community engagement means investing in meaningful projects that benefit us most where we live and work,” said Reggie Fields, executive director of the NiSource Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to collaborate with these outstanding nonprofit organizations and help them fulfill their missions through these vital environmental projects.”
NiSource Inc., the parent company of the NIPSCO and Columbia Gas brands, serves customers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Foundation expanded the program this year to include those other states and will distribute a total of $250,000 in Environmental Action Grants.
