CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility, recently awarded a Community Safety Grant of $2,500 to the Big Lake Police Department to strengthen its emergency response by helping to fund a Motorola portable radio, charging unit and remote speaker microphone. 

Keri Stroud, Senior Administrative Assistant with CenterPoint Energy, presented the Community Safety Grant check to Big Lake Police Chief John Kaczmarek and Captain Sam Olson last month. 

In Minnesota this year, CenterPoint Energy has awarded nearly 50 Community Safety Grants, totaling more than $100,000, to support safety-related equipment and projects. CenterPoint Energy provides natural gas service to 900,000 residential and business customers in more than 260 Minnesota communities.

“Safety is a core value at CenterPoint Energy, and our commitment to safety is an essential part of our broader commitment to serving our customers and communities in Minnesota,” said Christe Singleton, CenterPoint Energy’s Vice President, Minnesota Gas. “Through our Community Safety Grant program, we are proud to support local safety initiatives and continue investing in the communities we serve.”

Community Safety Grant recipients are determined based on the content of their applications. Participants are required to outline a safety-related problem, issue or need in the community and how a Community Safety Grant would help create a sustainable solution. Leveraging the chosen organization’s local funds, the CenterPoint Energy grant provides a matching contribution up to $2,500.

This year, CenterPoint Energy awarded a total of 105 Community Safety Grants in Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio and Texas, totaling more than $232,000 to fund safety-related equipment and projects in local communities. Since 2003, through its Community Safety Grant program, CenterPoint Energy has contributed more than $3 million to support more than 1,500 local safety-related initiatives. 

To learn more about how CenterPoint Energy is making a positive impact in local communities, visit www.centerpointenergy.com/community.