Avista

As many of us put our gardens to bed for the season, a local nonprofit is feeling extra hopeful for next year’s growth. Millwood Impact is a nonprofit providing students in Millwood and West Valley with safe, fun and supportive after-school programming. In the spring and fall, students visit the Pumpkin Patch Community Garden to learn the basics of gardening. Millwood Impact is taking on a bigger role in managing the community garden. But as a small nonprofit, it can be tough to make everything happen. That’s why a grant from the Avista Foundation in 2024 was so impactful. The Avista Foundation is a community investment program that provides funding to nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of communities within Avista’s service areas. It's a separate, nonprofit organization established by Avista Corp. and does not receive funding from customer rates. “The Avista Foundation’s support came at the perfect time. We were able to use the funds to do some overdue maintenance and cleanup, making the garden even more inviting,” Jeremy said. Learn more about what’s next for the nonprofit and its hopes for the community garden by visiting https://lnkd.in/gZ9vzPuZ.

Ken Mead felt abandoned most of his life. Addicted and living on the streets, Ken wanted a better life but didn't who could help him. That changed when he discovered Dignified Workday. Since joining the Dignified Workday crew, Ken has been a changed man. Through steady employment, he earned what he needed to get off the streets and move into an apartment. "We want to take concrete steps to help break the spirit of poverty through the dignity of work," said Andy Dwonch, Career Path Services Chief Operating Officer whose organization co-founded Dignified Workday. People who show up for work are assigned to work sites. Career Path Services and their partner, SDS Realty, Inc, lead Dignified Workday. The nonprofit secures work projects. They also organize work crews and manage payroll. The program started with a request for help at St. Ann Catholic Church. Tresa Schmautz, co-founder of Dignified Workday and member of St. Ann, asked unhoused people for help and promised payment in return. One man accepted her offer. From that one appeal, Tresa's work crew grew to over 60 people ready to work. Tresa and her husband, Steve, found work for the group and paid wages out of their personal resources. Andy attended the Tuesday gatherings and saw an opportunity. Andy and Career Path Services developed the Dignified Workday program and officially launched it in January 2024. Avista has stepped in to help support the labor cost. The utility awarded Dignified Workday with Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) and Avista Foundation grants. As a supervisor for one of the crews, Tresa discovered a problem that’s often overlooked. "I kept hearing about laundry and how expensive it is," said Tresa. "They can't afford to wash them." Thanks to Tresa’s advocacy, a vacant room on the St. Ann campus was renovated into a commercial laundry facility for the unhoused population. Avista awarded St. Ann a separate NCIF grant for the remodeling project, helping with the costs of new windows, an HVAC upgrade, laundry equipment, air conditioning, and wiring to support the three commercial-grade washers and dryers. Energy efficiency upgrades will help the parish save on its energy bill while providing a dignified place for people experiencing homelessness to wash their clothes. Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) was approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission as part of the company's Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP) to meet compliance targets for the state's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA, 2019). The NCIF will invest up to $5 million annually in projects, programs, and initiatives that benefit Avista's Washington electric customers residing in highly impacted and vulnerable communities (i.e., "Named Communities"). Community-based projects will be selected for funding through a competitive grant application process. Application information and eligibility guidelines can be found at myavista.com/NCIF.

??Meet Rachel, an Avista engineering intern who is turning her passion into a promising career. “There are so many places you can go with Avista. I hope I can start working at the utility full-time after my internship.” Ready to follow in Rachel’s footsteps? Applications for Avista’s Student Engineering Development Program (SEDP) are due soon, so apply today. https://bit.ly/3CMpQDz

Together, we're building a stronger, more connected community. ?? The Avista Foundation is proud to support Spokane Alliance United’s recent Foundations of Community Organizing Training which provided 35 participants from 15 different organizations with the skills and knowledge to become effective community leaders. “Thanks to the Avista Foundation’s generosity, Spokane Alliance United could provide participation and childcare stipends to those in need. This support enabled many individuals to attend who otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity,” said Laurel Fish, senior organizer at Spokane Alliance United. "I feel empowered and excited to have these tools to make a difference in my community,” said one attendee. It’s important to note that the Avista Foundation does not receive funding from its utility or subsidiary customers through rates. It's a separate, non-profit organization established by Avista Corporation. The next grant application cycle for the Avista Foundation opens January 1, 2025, for health and human services proposals. Learn more at www.avistafoundation.com ?? credit: Spokane Alliance United

Know a college engineering student looking for an internship? Avista’s Student Engineering Development Program offers real-world experience in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering. Time is running out to apply, so share this post with someone you know soon!

On this Veterans Day, we honor and thank all the brave men and women who have served in our armed forces. Your courage and sacrifice have protected our freedoms; we are forever grateful. We're proud that more than 8% of the Avista workforce are veterans, and we have a longstanding tradition of recognizing their unique contributions to our workforce and our country.

Although there is a lot of work to be done on the inside of our new Metro substation before energization, we can now celebrate the exterior wall, the artwork and the amazing community partners who joined forces to make this all possible. Last month we hosted a First Friday celebration to recognize the artists whose work is displayed on the southeast and southwest corners of the structure. We'd also like to thank the City of Spokane, Spokane Arts, Wolfe Architectural, POWER Engineers, Bouten Construction Company, Garco Construction, Inc., ALLWEST, Budinger & Associates, Inc., helveticka, Designer Decal, and all of their partners for making this all happen. Work will continue inside the security wall, building out and integrating the 115kV substation through the fall of 2027. The new facility is located on the 700 block of West 3rd Avenue between Post and Wall in downtown Spokane.

The Avista Foundation is awarding $122,750 in grants to 27 nonprofit organizations in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska to support economic and community development. “With these contributions, the Avista Foundation is creating positive change, driving economic development, and enriching our communities,” said Dennis Vermillion, Avista CEO. The third-quarter grants support a diverse range of organizations and programs. A few examples include: ? Supporting AHANA’s efforts to serve multi-ethnic and multicultural business owners in Spokane, Washington. ? Bringing area lighting to improve safety at the Sandpoint Skatepark in Sandpoint, Idaho. ? Enabling program expansion with a new larger building at Southeast Alaska Food Bank in Juneau, Alaska. ? Helping Southern Oregon Child and Family Council Inc's LISTO Family Literacy Program provide education for Latinx adults in Jackson County, Oregon. See the full list of recipients, here - https://bit.ly/3YPYEN2 The Avista Foundation offers four grant cycles each year. Environmental and arts and culture proposals are due by November 1, 2024. Organizations can verify eligibility and apply for funding by visiting https://bit.ly/3YSfomU.

Sacarias Guitron and his wife, Lilia, opened Fiesta En Jalisco Orofino, a family-run Mexican restaurant in rural Orofino, Idaho, 30 years ago and never looked back. The location was the first in what is now a nine-restaurant chain stretching across Montana and Washington. Before they discovered Orofino, Sacarias and Lilia lived in Aberdeen, Washington, working for a different restaurant. “On his day off, Sacarias flew to the nearest airport in Lewiston. He wanted to see Orofino," Lilia said. "He liked it. He came back to Aberdeen and told me, ‘Lilia, I think we have to open this restaurant with my cousins.’ That’s how we got here.” Sacarias and his cousins, all childhood friends from Ayutla, a small town in the Mexico state of Jalisco, formed a partnership and got to work building their business. Eight other locations followed, all of which continue to be run by a family member of the original four cousins. For Lilia, Orofino became the ideal place to raise her family. She found life there mirrored her hometown. "I go to the post office and the bank, and everybody knows everybody,” she said. “Orofino is a small town where people know and help you.” In 2003, the restaurant moved to an older building a few blocks from its original location. Lilia believes it was built around 1890. The Guitrons cemented the move about six years ago, purchasing the building despite its needed upgrades. One such upgrade was recently taken care of with help from Avista. The restaurant’s lighting was completely overhauled and updated to new energy-saving LEDs. The upgrade cost just over $37,700 and is projected to save the restaurant more than 68,000 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. That’s enough to power more than three typical homes in the area for a year. Even better, Avista covered the costs of the entire project. But for Lilia and Sicarias, the overhaul means their family business can save money and continue to flourish from generation to generation. In time, their son, Abraham, will take over and manage the Orofino location full-time. For now, they’re excited to continue serving the small Idaho town they’ve come to love. “I love to interact with people,” Lilia said. “At one point, I told myself I would not work here full-time anymore. But I couldn’t do it. I came back. I love people." Washington and Idaho Avista small business customers can easily qualify for lighting upgrades, such as the one mentioned in this account. Plus, Avista typically covers 100% of the project costs. Sign up for Avista's program now at https://lnkd.in/g4UV8ise.

As we wrap up National Energy Awareness Month, here's some of the ways our employees’ teens describe how to stay safe around power lines. ??