HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-2012 Wells Fargo Provides Grant to City of South Bend SovTxsF
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CITY OF SOUTH BEND
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2012
Contact: Debra Johnson,Director of Communications
Phone: 574-235-9261
WELLS FARGO PROVIDES GRANT TO CITY OF SOUND BEND
South Bend Today, Mayor Pete Buttigieg accepted a grant for the City of South Bend
Municipal Energy Office from Wells Fargo. Buttigieg,joined by Jon Burke and Jonathon
Geels of the Municipal Energy Office, met with bank representatives at the Wells
Fargo building downtown on Thursday morning.
"We will use this funding from Wells Fargo to initiate a pilot project to look into
upgrading all street lighting within the city," said Burke.
Wells Fargo representatives presented a $12,500 check to the City of South Bend for an
energy savings lighting project. Wells Fargo Environmental Affairs group also provided a
$6,250 (or 2 to 1) match, making the total donation to the city $18,750. In addition, some
of the grant will go to promote urban gardening groups in the city. The lighting portion of
the grant amounts to $8,000 and the urban gardening receives the remaining $4,500.
The lighting portion of the grant could grow into a larger collaborative effort with Indiana
Michigan Power to potentially replace some 13,000 street lights throughout South Bend.
"Each month, the city spends $85,000 on street lighting," said Buttigieg. "This
technology consumes less than half of the electricity as current lighting and will
dramatically reduce maintenance costs. Being more efficient and finding cost savings is a
win-win for South Bend and its residents."
Mayor Buttigieg and the Municipal Energy Office continue to develop a Strategic Energy
Plan to guide policy in the future. The plan includes building efficiency, energy
conservation, transportation, renewable energy, and health and sustainability initiatives.
"It's opening up opportunities to partner with other organizations and civil entities that
we wouldn't have previously. The collaboration is important to implementing this
energy-saving initiative," said Geels.
1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227 W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601
PHONE 574/235-9261 • FAx 574/235-9892
SovTxsF
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1865
CITY OF SOUTH BEND
PETE BUTTIGIEG, MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
The second portion of the grant focuses on sustainable agriculture in an urban setting and
will aid in the development of a healthy, locally grown food supply in our urban
neighborhoods. This funding will support the rapidly growing gardening groups within
the City.
1400 COUNTY-CITY BUILDING•227 W.JEFFERSON BOULEVARD•SOUTH BEND,INDIANA 46601
PHONE 574/235-9261 • FAx 574/235-9892