Lawrence County – Firefly Solar today announced the organizations receiving the project’s Q1 2023 Community Grant Award. This award is granted quarterly to local organizations working toward a stronger and more connected community for everyone in Lawrence County.
The Q1 winners include the Tri-County CleanWays, F.D. Campbell Memorial Library, the Cathedral Foundation, Human Services Center, New Castle Public Library, Cray Youth and Family Services Inc., Hoyt Center for the Arts, New Castle Baseball and Softball Association, and Pine Valley Camp.
“Solar benefits communities at many levels, from stable revenue sources to tax revenue and local spending for goods and services, along with important opportunities like these to support local causes directly,” said EJay Fyke, Community Affairs Manager at Vesper Energy, who is working to develop the Firefly Solar project. “These grants offer a way for the project to contribute to organizations doing important work in the area.”
Tamara Gibson from Human Services Center said, “We are deeply grateful and honored to be selected for this quarter’s grant. These funds will provide much-needed support to our veterans who find themselves homeless or struggling to secure stable housing due to the challenges of mental health diagnoses. This grant and others like it will help make a real difference in their lives, giving them the helping hand they truly deserve.”
The New Castle Public Library is receiving a grant for its Summer Reading Program. Library Director Andrew Henly says this year’s theme is “All Together Now.”
Michael Olszak of Tri-County CleanWays is pleased to share that the organization’s grant will help “cover the purchase of reusable safety vests for cleanup volunteers.”
For Q2, Firefly Solar will donate a portion of its grant funds to help those affected in Lawrence and Beaver Counties by the train derailment. New grant applications are available now for Q2.
Additional information about Firefly Solar’s Community Grant Program, including application instructions, may be found on the project website.
The 200-megawatt Firefly Solar will create approximately 200 local jobs during construction. It will benefit the local, regional, and state economy through short- and long-term employment opportunities and create a new, reliable long-term source of tax revenue for each County.
An economic impact report estimates Firefly Solar will generate $51.6 million for Lawrence County during construction. Once operational, the project will generate $8.7 million for the County and $1.6 million in state and local taxes annually. Over the anticipated 40-year life of the project, landowners will receive $26.7 million in lease payments and contribute $2.5 million in state and local taxes based on this income.
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