$292,834 in Community Grants Benefit First Responders, Schools and Townships in Pennsylvania

TUNKHANNOCK, Pa., Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty-five organizations from 10 Pennsylvania counties will benefit this fall from $292,834 in funding from Williams through the company's semiannual Atlantic Sunrise Community Grant program. Williams awarded up to $10,000 to eligible organizations in communities where the Atlantic Sunrise pipeline project will be constructed and operated.

One of the 35 recipients is the Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County, which will use an $8,000 grant to help fund its STEM Education Takes Root Outdoors Program.

"Nearly 50% of Lancaster County's streams are impaired," said Chris Thompson, Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County.  "These grant dollars will help us connect kids with the outdoors so they will want to become citizen scientists, recognizing contributing factors that impair water quality and learn about practices that improve water quality.  We sincerely appreciate Williams' support."

Another recipient is the Milton Fire Department in Northumberland County, which will use a grant for $7,500 to purchase a new thermal imager.

"The Milton Fire Department plans to use these Atlantic Sunrise grant dollars to purchase a new thermal imager. Our current thermal imager is nearly 20 years old and largely outdated," said Deputy Chief Joseph Lupo. "These dollars will help us implement more modern technology to keep our community safer, aiding us by speeding up searches for possible victims in burning structures. We are definitely grateful for Williams' support."

Today's announcement represents the sixth grant award cycle. Williams has announced total awards to 268 organizations of more than $2 million across the Atlantic Sunrise project area since the program's inception in 2015.

Two cycles of Atlantic Sunrise grant awards are announced each year (spring and fall). This cycle's grant dollars were dispersed in the following broad categories: emergency response ($169,500), education ($59,000) and recreation or community enhancement projects ($64,334).

Grant applications can be completed online at www.atlanticsunriseexpansion.com/community/grant-program. Applications must be received by March 1 and Sept. 1.

Fall 2017 Grant Award Recipients:

Clinton County

• $10,000.00 to Citizen's Hose Co. of South Renovo in Clinton County, for an ATV/UTV
• $10,000.00 to Renovo Area Senior Center in Clinton County, for the Renovo Area Senior Center Project

Columbia County

• $3,000.00 to Benton Area School District in Columbia County, for I-Pads for Science and Math Curriculum
• $5,334.00 to Benton Cemetery Association in Columbia County, for Road Resurfacing Project
• $10,000.00 to Bloomsburg Fire Department, Inc. in Columbia County, for a Firefighting Skid Unit
• $10,000.00 to Bloomsburg Volunteer Ambulance Association in Columbia County, for Emergency Medical Technician Classroom Development
• $3,000.00 to Columbia County Traveling Library Authority in Columbia County, for the Bookmobile Means Business Program
• $8,100.00 to Hemlock Township in Columbia County, for Computer Upgrades
• $5,000.00 to the Foundation of the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce in Columbia County, for Workforce Development Education
• $10,000.00 to Orangeville Area Police in Columbia County, for Equipment Upgrades

Lancaster County

• $10,000.00 to Columbia Borough Fire Department in Lancaster County, for Gas Detection Equipment
• $10,000.00 to Conestoga Township in Lancaster County, for Pool Improvements
• $8,000.00 to Conservation Foundation of Lancaster County in Lancaster County, for STEM Education Takes Root Outdoors Program
• $10,000.00 to Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center Foundation in Lancaster County, for Training Facility Projector, Tables and Chairs
• $7,500.00 to Thaddeus Stevens Foundation/College of Technology in Lancaster County, for Welding Scholarship Program
• $10,000.00 to Thaddeus Stevens Foundation/College of Technology in Lancaster County, for Welding Education Expansion

Lebanon County

• $10,000.00 to Lebanon Fire Department in Lebanon County, for a Mobile Ventilation Trailer
• $10,000.00 to South Lebanon Township Fire Police in Lebanon County, for Equipment Purchase
• $10,000.00 to North Lebanon Township in Lebanon County, for Lenni Lenape Park - Trees
• $6,400.00 to North Lebanon Township Emergency Management in Lebanon County, for EOC Upgrade

Luzerne County

• $10,000.00 to Dr. David W. Kistler Elementary School in Luzerne County, for KISTLER Gets Real with STEM
• $5,000.00 to Dupont Borough in Luzerne County, for a Garden Park
• $10,000.00 to Hazleton Fire Department in Luzerne County, for a Fit Testing Machine

Lycoming County

• $10,000.00 to Pennsylvania College of Technology Foundation in Lycoming County, for Makerspace at Pennsylvania College of Technology

Northumberland County

• $4,000.00 to Shamokin Police Department in Northumberland County, for Traffic Safety
• $7,500.00 to Milton Fire Department in Northumberland County, for Thermal Imager Replacement

Schuylkill County

• $10,000.00 to Hegins Township Police Department in Schuylkill County, for the Radio Project
• $9,000.00 to Northern Swatara Creek Watershed Association in Schuylkill County, for the Upper Little Swatara Creek Habitat Improvement Project Phase 3
• $10,000.00 to North End Fire Company in Schuylkill County, for Updated Turn-out Gear

Susquehanna County

• $5,000.00 to Hop Bottom Borough in Susquehanna County, for Vehicle Radios and Portable Radios
• $10,000.00 to Susquehanna Fire Department, Inc. in Susquehanna County, for New Ambulance Litter

Wyoming County

• $8,500.00 to Factoryville Fire Company in Wyoming County, for Communications Radio and Pager Acquisition
• $7,500.00 to Keystone College in Wyoming County, for an Energy Industry Scholarship
• $10,000.00 to Keystone College in Wyoming County, for Keystone College Trolley Trail Connections
• $10,000.00 to Meshoppen Borough Police in Wyoming County, for Police Car Equipment Upgrade

About Atlantic Sunrise

The Atlantic Sunrise project is an expansion of the existing Transco natural gas pipeline system in eastern Pennsylvania designed to transport enough natural gas to serve approximately 7 million homes. The design and construction of the project is projected to generate approximately $1.6 billion in positive economic impact, according to a study authored by researchers at Pennsylvania State University.

About Williams

Williams operates the Transco pipeline, which consists of more than 10,000 miles of pipe and provides about one-third of the natural gas consumed in Pennsylvania. Williams operates pipelines and related facilities which handle about 30% of the nation's natural gas.

SOURCE Williams