Cinergy/ULH&P Meets And Responds To Covington Officials

CINCINNATI, January 6, 2006 - The Cinergy Foundation has awarded more than $10,000 in grants to Covington organizations and programs through the company’s Community Outreach program.

“We are committed to assisting the communities we serve in accomplishing their goals,” said Rhonda Whitaker, area manager for Cinergy’s Northern Kentucky affiliate Union Light Heat & Power. “Our company’s success is directly linked to the growth and success of the communities in our service area.”

Cinergy officials met with a cross section of community leaders from Covington over several weeks to hear their perspectives on key successes and issues. The meetings also provided an opportunity to update community officials on Cinergy activities and answer any questions concerning the pending merger with Duke Energy.

Recently Cinergy representatives and community leaders met for a dinner to hear the results of the interviews. One of the outcomes of the interviews was Cinergy grants targeted to areas of need identified in the community. The grants, funded by the Foundation, include:

• A $1 for $1 match, up to $10,000, to the City of Covington for the development of a strategic plan should they decide to embark on a strategic planning process.
• A $2,500 grant to the Center for Great Neighborhoods for a housing project to benefit a Covington neighborhood(s)
• A $1,000 grant to Southbank Partners for their current strategic planning effort
• A $1,000 grant to Senior Services of Northern Kentucky to assist with hiring a consultant to explore possible social service agency collaboration opportunities in the area of transportation services
• A $1,000 contribution to the Covington Business Council and Latonia Business Association to identify a joint effort to benefit the business community
• A $500 grant to the Hispanic Resource Center toward their development of a DVD for area businesses highlighting the Center’s services
• A $500 grant to the Hispanic Resource Center toward the development of a “virtual resource center” for students, aimed at continuing educational programming during the summer months.
• A $500 grant to St. Paul AME Zion Church to be used for two, $250 scholarships for new participants in their “welfare to work” mentoring/tutoring program to be applied toward the purchase of college books
• A $250 grant to Covington Partners in Prevention for drug education efforts in the coming year, to include sharing of such information with Covington Catholic Schools
• A $250 grant for “seed money” to assist the Eastside Neighborhood Association in starting up a “motherhood” program
• Consulting services to improve economic development opportunities and to promote Northern Kentucky arts organizations

Through the Cinergy Foundation, Cinergy Corp. contributes one percent of its pretax profits in the communities it serves in support of the arts, education, human services and community development. Through its operating companies, Cinergy serves 790,000 electric and 500,000 gas customers in southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky.