Community Energy Improvement Fund (Optimize for Good)

Community Energy Improvement Fund (Optimize for Good) is sponsored by CenterPoint Energy Foundation. The Community Energy Improvement Fund is a $5 million commitment to support weatherization, energy efficiency, and cost-saving programs across southwestern Indiana.

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Community Energy Improvement Fund The Community Energy Improvement Fund is our $5 million commitment to support weatherization, energy efficiency, and cost-saving programs across southwestern Indiana. Small businesses and nonprofits play a vital role in the strength and character of southwestern Indiana, but many operate in older buildings with limited resources to make needed upgrades.

Optimize for Good, Optimize for Local, ​and Optimize for Growth were created to help organizations improve their facilities, reduce energy waste, and build long term stability. Through matching grants, CenterPoint Energy Foundation will invest in energy efficiency projects that strengthen nonprofit organizations, support the vibrancy of our community, and drive economic growth in key industries.

These three programs offer tangible, practical support to help organizations gain greater control over their energy consumption, improve comfort and performance, and continue contributing to the communities and residents who rely on them every day. Optimize for Local will help southwestern Indiana small businesses, specifically local/independent restaurants and retailers , make energy efficiency improvements to their facilities.

Helping these businesses make meaningful improvements to their facilities helps create a tangible and positive presence in the community. Restaurants and retailers will be selected, through a competitive application and selection process, to receive up to $25,000 in matching grant funding to complete energy efficiency upgrades to help reduce energy waste and improve building performance.

Optimize for Growth will help southwestern Indiana small businesses, specifically industrial businesses like small manufacturers, processors, and fabricators, make energy efficiency improvements to their facilities. Supporting them strengthens the region’s economic engine by focusing resources on companies that can scale, compete, and bring new dollars and opportunities into the community.

Small industrial businesses will be selected, through a competitive application and selection process, to receive up to $25,000 in matching grant funding to complete energy efficiency upgrades to help reduce energy waste and improve building performance. Optimize for Good will help southwestern Indiana nonprofits make energy efficiency improvements to their facilities.

By supporting these upgrades, nonprofits can better manage operating costs by reducing energy waste and focusing limited resources on their vital missions that support our community and the residents who call it home.

Nonprofits will be selected, through a competitive application process, to participate in the cohort-based initiative that provides each organization with a comprehensive facility energy assessment including a report with improvement recommendations.

Each organization will also be eligible to receive up to $25,000 in matching grant funding to implement one of the priority projects from their facility assessment to improve efficiency and building performance. Key Eligibility Criteria: Have a primary location in CenterPoint Energy’s southwestern Indiana service area. Own or lease your building.

If lease, have approval authority to make repairs. Be able to meet a 1:1 match requirement up to the award amount. Be willing to complete the project within 12 months of receiving the grant.

Agree to complete an end-of-grant report. Additional program-specific criteria may apply, like the type of business. Grant funds may be used only for capital investments that directly improve energy efficiency or building performance, such as: Refrigeration or cooling replacements.

LED lighting and lighting system modernization. Insulation or air sealing. Energy-efficient windows or exterior doors.

High-efficiency commercial kitchen equipment (restaurants). Replacement of older, inefficient mechanical or electrical equipment tied to energy use. Identify which parts of your building or equipment are hardest to run efficiently.

Not sure where to start? Get a facility assessment through CenterPoint Energy’s resources . Gather basic information about your building and equipment.

Secure an estimate for a needed upgrade or improvement. A vendor/contractor quote or applicant-developed scope of work will be a required element of the application. If you don't have a preffered contractor, check out these Review current CenterPoint rebate programs here to see which available rebates could be applied to your project as well.

Think about how an upgrade would help your nonprofit or business and our community. CNPGives@CenterPointEnergy. com for answers to any questions.

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