CLEVELAND—The Fund for Our Economic Future, the Cleveland Foundation, and The George Gund Foundation today announced the launch of Power Up Local, a pioneering nonprofit dedicated to helping communities unlock the potential of a locally-led clean energy future. Power Up Local will work with public utilities, city and county leaders, and community partners to foster a sustainable energy landscape across our region. Power Up Local will initially be incubated within the Fund for Our Economic Future with the goal of spinning it out into an independent nonprofit by 2027.
“For 20 years, the Fund has been at the forefront of what matters and what works to advance a more competitive and equitable economy,” said President Bethia Burke of the Fund for Our Economic Future. “Fostering the green economy here in Northeast Ohio is the next great challenge, and we are excited to offer Power Up Local the creative space to develop and grow.”
The Fund for Our Economic Future, the Cleveland Foundation, and The George Gund Foundation are financing Power Up Local’s launch through a series of grants and resource support equal to over a million dollars across three years.
“The George Gund Foundation is thrilled to support this innovative, community-led approach to clean energy,” said John Mitterholzer, Director of The Gund Foundation’s Climate and Environmental Justice Program. “Power Up Local empowers partners to tap into a broader array of resources, amplifying the positive impact of their economic development projects that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs for northeast Ohioans.”
To unlock the potential of locally produced clean energy, Power Up Local:
- Champions Local Impact: Power Up Local will assist partners in navigating grant funding, tax incentives, and investor markets, ensuring that each project maximizes its positive impact on the community.
- Pioneers Project Design: The team will tailor ambitious and achievable solutions, empowering communities to build clean, build local, and build now.
- Forges Transformative Connections: Power Up Local will facilitate connections between local leaders and a growing network of investors, developers, and funders, supporting the large-scale shift to clean energy.
Power Up Local is led by Executive Director Daniel Gray, who formerly served as the director of local strategies for the Citizens Utility Board of Ohio. He was a core member of the team that successfully brought $285 Million to Northeast Ohio and the Midwest for clean energy development through the EPA’s Solar for All and Climate Pollution Reduction grants. Power Up Local is already engaged in several projects within the region, including the Site Readiness Fund For Good Jobs’ 7000 Central Project and the implementation of the Northeast Ohio Community Pollution Reduction Grant’s landfill solar and battery project across Cuyahoga and Lake Counties.
“Power Up Local will fill a critical gap to implement large-scale and complex projects that advance clean energy development and benefit our entire community,” said Stephen Love, Program Director, Environmental Initiatives at the Cleveland Foundation. “The Cleveland Foundation is excited to support the launch of Power Up Local in alignment with our vision of a vibrant Northeast Ohio where no Clevelander is left behind.”
For more information about Power Up Local, please visit poweruplocal.org or contact info@poweruplocal.org.
About Power Up Local
Power Up Local is dedicated to unlocking the potential of locally led clean energy projects. Working with community stakeholders, Power Up Local is a pioneering nonprofit startup within the Fund for Our Economic Future. Learn more at poweruplocal.org.
About the Fund for Our Economic Future
The Fund for Our Economic Future is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to advance a more equitable economy in Northeast Ohio. This civic collaborative brings together leaders across sectors and throughout the region to collectively invest in, test and amplify strategies to enable the region to achieve its full potential. Since 2004, the Fund has developed enduring strategies to grow the everyone economy—where good jobs and rising incomes are within reach for all residents. Learn more at thefundneo.org.
About The George Gund Foundation
In 1952, The George Gund Foundation was established by George Gund, former chair of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made three times a year in the areas of climate and environmental justice, creative culture and arts, democracy building, public education, thriving families and social justice, and vibrant neighborhoods and inclusive economy. To date, Foundation commitments have totaled over $931 million.
About the Cleveland Foundation
Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world’s first community foundation – and one of the largest today. Through the generosity of donors, the foundation improves the lives of residents of Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking and providing leadership on vital issues. For more information, visit ClevelandFoundation.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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