Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. and its employees continued their tradition of giving back to the communities they serve this year, providing more than $650,000 in financial support to local community service organizations and for small businesses support and other local causes; and nearly $780,000 in approved economic development funding to attract and retain businesses and jobs in the Mid-Hudson Valley. 

“Although there are signs of recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our region,” said Charles A. Freni, President and CEO of Central Hudson. “I’m proud of our entire team as they’ve shown extraordinary generosity at a time when our communities need it most.”

Central Hudson and its employees’ charitable efforts provided support to local not-for-profit community service and small business organizations:

• Each year, Central Hudson employees lead a campaign to raise funds for the United Way, and each year, the company matches those employee contributions to the Community Fund. In 2021, more than $394,000 was raised by Central Hudson, its employees, retirees and board of directors.
• Central Hudson extended more than $205,000 to local agencies and business groups by sponsorship of community events that raise awareness, promote the local economy and support non-profit programs.
• Individual employee contributions to community service organizations are matched the Employee Matching Gift program. During 2021, employees and Central Hudson contributed more than $25,000. Central Hudson will match employee gifts made to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services within the utility’s eight-county service territory of up to $500 per employee annually.
• In 2021, Central Hudson match more than $27,000 in customer contributions to the Good Neighbor Fund. This is a last resort grant toward utility bills for families and individuals facing financial hardship, and includes special grants to veterans and military families as a part of this program. During 2021 and 2022, Central Hudson has committed up to $200,000 in grants to residential customers that have been impacted by COVID-19 but are ineligible for other federal and state assistance.  

• Employees of the utility also contributed thousands of hours as volunteers for various community support organizations.

In addition to charitable giving, Central Hudson provided economic development grants totaling $224,000 to support and retain local businesses; and Central Hudson’s Back to Business Funding program, committing up to $1 million in grants to help pay down new working capital loans taken with participating local banks, provided additional funding. In 2021, nearly $20,000 has been applied to loans taken by local small businesses and to date the program has funded nearly $500,000 in loan reductions.

“Central Hudson and our employees have provided nearly $8 million in local community and small business funding and more than $8.6 million in economic development grants since 2010,” said Freni. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to continue our support of the communities we serve.”

 For more information on Central Hudson’s community service initiatives and economic development programs, visit www.CentralHudson.com/About-Us/Community.