CONNELLSVILLE, Pa., July 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Fayette County Cultural Trust announced today that the FirstEnergy Foundation plans to donate $100,000 to help fund economic development activities in Connellsville, Pennsylvania.
The grant - $25,000 per year over four years beginning in 2014 - will be used to help redevelop the Connellsville downtown area and provide assistance to local small businesses.
"We greatly appreciate the generous support from the FirstEnergy Foundation, which will help us fulfill our mission of creating partnerships to help revitalize Connellsville and other communities in our county," said Michael Edwards, president of the Fayette County Cultural Trust.
The grant was recommended by the Allegheny Conference on Community Development's "Strengthening Communities" partnership program. Allegheny Conference on Community Development is a regional economic development organization focused on improving the economy and quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania.
"FirstEnergy has a strong history of supporting community development organizations in western Pennsylvania and we are proud to support the work being done by the Fayette County Cultural Trust to assist with investment and job creation in Fayette County," said Jim Lash, president of FirstEnergy Generation, and an Allegheny Conference on Community Development board member. "Through grants such as this one, FirstEnergy is committed to doing our part to help build strong, vibrant communities in areas that we serve."
FirstEnergy's operations in western Pennsylvania include the Bruce Mansfield Power Plant and Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Station in Shippingport, Pa., along with its West Penn Power and Pennsylvania Power electric utilities, which serve more than 850,000 customers, including about 70,000 in Fayette County.
The FirstEnergy Foundation is funded solely by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) and provides support to non-profit, tax-exempt health and human services agencies; educational organizations; cultural and arts programs and institutions; and civic groups in areas served by FirstEnergy's 10 electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business.
SOURCE Fayette County Cultural Trust
