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New Sun Energy presents local grant, scholarship and community-benefit programs to Crook County
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Summary
Representatives of New Sun Energy described years of local community investments in Crook County including scholarships, 4-H and county-fair support, a school-based health clinic, garden-box environmental education grants, trail and ADA parking projects, and ad hoc emergency aid; they said typical grants range from $500 to $25,000 and that some long-term commitments are multiyear.
Representatives of New Sun Energy told the Crook County Board of Commissioners that their projects include multiyear community-benefits funding, scholarships, support for 4-H and county fairs, and investments in local health and education programs.
Josie Norris, director of community investments, said the company seeks small, multiyear grants that can be disbursed quickly to address local needs. "A tiny percentage of revenue gets deposited into a community benefits fund every year for all of our active projects," Norris said. She described investments ranging from about $500 donations to grants around $25,000 and said many awards are multiyear commitments.
Jake Stevens, CEO and founder of New Sun Energy, described the companys local, relationship-driven approach and said the firm has invested in scholarships and county-fair purchases that support youth programs. "We have essentially bootstrapped and invested our way up," Stevens said, describing past projects in Central Oregon and commitments to local scholarship programs and clinic expansions.
Presenters highlighted specific Crook County investments: assistance to a High Desert Museum family-pass program intended to reach nearly 70 families; a multiyear grant to a school-garden program; funding for trail improvements and ADA-accessible parking; and donations to food banks and senior centers. They also recounted a discretionary on-the-spot commitment to help a rural hospital-clinic remodel that had a reported $400,000 funding gap; the presenters said community volunteers and partners were coordinating additional resources.
Commissioners thanked the presenters for the support to county fairs and student scholarships and asked about partnering opportunities and follow-up contacts; presenters said they will provide contact information and are open to additional presentations on economic and jobs benefits tied to future projects.
The presentation was informational; no funding or contract decisions were requested of the board at the Feb. 11 work session.
