Newton, IL – June 9, 2023 – Apex Clean Energy and Violet Solar have awarded the next round
of grants within Jasper County as part of the Violet Solar Community Grant Program. The grant
program is one way that Apex contributes to pressing community needs and strives to make a
meaningful impact at the local level. These funds are allocated to support programs that serve
Jasper County through economic development, environmental sustainability, education, and
health and recreation. During this cycle, grant funds were distributed to Jasper County Boys and
Girls Park and the Sainte Marie Foundation’s Cork and Pork Festival.
Jasper County Boys and Girls Park provides a safe, fun, and appropriately competitive
environment for playing baseball and softball. The park’s objective is to instill values of
sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, and courage in children in the community—and inspire them to
become decent, healthy, and trustworthy adults. The grant funds will go toward the building of
an open-air pavilion in the park for families and community members to use year-round. This
marks the second award given to the park through the Violet Solar Community Grant Program.
“This grant will really help us in finishing the pavilion,” said board member Grant White. “We
really appreciate the funding for something that will benefit all the young people in the county.
We hope to partner with Apex and Violet Solar on future projects as well.”
Every year, the Sainte Marie Foundation hosts the Cork and Pork Festival, which celebrates
community and the rural lifestyle, as well as the history of the Sainte Marie area. Multiple events
are associated with the festival, and the grant funds are targeted toward the provision of live
musical entertainment. All profits from the event go to local community organizations, which
have received $188,000 to date. This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, July 8, 2023.
“We’re thrilled to support these organizations and events here in Jasper County,” said Apex
Illinois field manager Josh Hartke. “Apex wants to make a positive contribution to the
communities where we build projects, and these organizations are already doing that—some
since I was a kid in the area myself. Supporting them is a very easy choice.”
The goal of the Violet Solar Community Grant Program is to fund projects and programs that build
healthy communities. Violet Solar will award grant funds on a quarterly basis. If you are interested
in applying for future rounds of funding, please visit www.violetsolarpower.com/grant.
