NIPSCO announces environmental grants | Heraldrepublican

Now in its 10th year, the grant program has provided about $700,000 in funding support for nearly 170 projects with an emphasis on environmental education and restoration across northern Indiana. This year’s recipient organizations, selected by a review committee, will each receive a grant between $500 and $5,000 to further their missions.

In addition, an expanded grant for Monarch Joint Venture will support expansion and enhancement of pollinator habitats across multiple public lands and publicly accessible areas in NIPSCO’s northern Indiana territory. In conjunction with funding, volunteer efforts will include monarch tagging and planting approximately 150-200 native plant and milkweed plugs at Pisgah Marsh. Other monarch tagging events are planned for Hoosier Prairie Nature Preserve in Lake County, Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area and Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area.

This year’s grant recipients include:

• Monarch Joint Venture, Monarch Pollinator Projects across Northern Indiana ο Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat in Porter County

• Pisgah Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Kosciusko County

• Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area in Newton County

• Hammond Right-of-Ways in Lake County from Wolf Lake to Roxana Marsh

• Blue Heron Ministries, Demonstration Beds at Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site

• Boy Scouts of America Anthony Wayne Area Council, Montessori Environmental Stewardship Curriculum in Pleasant Lake

• Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy, Borton Wetlands Habitat Restoration

• Delta Institute, Urban Forestry and Community Engagement in Hammond

• Field Station Cooperative, Nature Pre-school at Indiana Dunes National Park

• Girl Scouts of Northern Indiana Michiana, Pollinator Project at Camp McMillen

• Indiana Dunes Environmental Learning Center, High School Outdoor Career Pathways

• Indiana University Foundation, The Pollinator Orchard at IU Kokomo

• International Friendship Gardens, Environmental Survey

• LaGrange County Department of Parks and Recreation, Nature Day Camps

• LaPorte County Soil and Water Conservation District, Kankakee River Days

• Legacy Foundation, Stewart Mattix Prairie Restoration

• Little River Wetlands, Native Habitat Restoration

• MLK Montessori School, STEAM Summer Camp

• Michigan City Parks Department, 2025 Trail Creek Week

• Mongo Community Development Association, Pollinator Garden Expansion

• Morning Bishop Theatre Playhouse, We Are Our Nature’s Keepers

• Niches Land Trust, Summer Adventure Camp

• Northwest Indiana Paddling Association, River Clearing East Branch Little Calumet River

• Oak Farm Montessori School, Forest Path Improvement Project

• PFW Foundation, Conservation Conversation

• Shirley Heinze Land Trust, Public Access Improvements to J. Timothy Ritchie Nature Preserve

Northern Indiana Public Service Co, with headquarters in Merrillville, has served the energy needs of northern Indiana for more than 100 years. As Indiana’s largest natural gas distribution company and the second-largest electric distribution company, NIPSCO serves approximately 900,000 natural gas and 500,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s six regulated utility companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.8 million natural gas and electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. More information about NIPSCO and NiSource is available at NIPSCO.com and NiSource.com.

The NiSource Charitable Foundation is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization and serves as the charitable arm for NiSource Inc. and its companies operating under the NIPSCO and Columbia Gas brands. The Foundation’s mission is to create strong and sustainable communities where its employees and customers live and work. The Foundation lives up to its mission by providing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and by encouraging employee volunteerism. Learn more at NiSource.com/Foundation.