In celebration of Earth Day, April 22, Columbia Gas of Kentucky and the NiSource Charitable Foundation today announced that seven local nonprofit organizations have been chosen to receive 2026 Environmental Action Grants. This annual program supports local environmental restoration and education projects by providing grants of up to $5,000 to each recipient.
“Real environmental change happens at the local level, driven by people who care deeply about their communities,” said Kimra Cole, President and Chief Operating Officer of Columbia Gas of Kentucky. “Our Environmental Action Grant program allows us to invest in organizations doing the hands-on work — restoring natural spaces, protecting wildlife habitats, and helping neighbors connect more closely with the environment.”
The recipients were chosen through a competitive process in which nonprofits submitted applications for specific community-based environmental projects that were reviewed and scored by a selection committee. The 2026 Environmental Action Grant recipients are:
• Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition Inc. — Erosion control and habitat restoration along Hell Creek at Miller Fork Recreational Preserve.
• Mary E. Wharton Nature Sanctuary at Floracliff Inc. — Treatment of ash trees threatened by the emerald ash borer.
• North American Butterfly Association – Central Kentucky Chapter — Pollinator education and community outreach programs.
• Josephine Sculpture Park Inc. — Habitat restoration and environmental education throughout the park.
• Kentucky Association for Environmental Education — Creation of native pollinator habitats to support Frankfort’s Bee City USA® efforts.
• Friends of Sugarcamp — Installation of bat boxes and educational features along local trails.
• Trees Lexington — Community tree giveaways and education to expand Lexington’s urban tree canopy.
“True community engagement means investing in projects that benefit communities where our employees and customers live and work,” said Reggie Fields, Executive Director of the NiSource Charitable Foundation. “We are proud to collaborate with these outstanding nonprofit organizations and help them fulfill their missions through these vital environmental projects.”
The Environmental Action Grant program originated in Indiana more than a decade ago and, in 2026, expanded to include all NiSource operating companies. This year, the NiSource Charitable Foundation will distribute $250,000 in Environmental Action Grants across its six-state service area.
