PPL Montana's Community Fund is awarding $100,000 in grants to 14 nonprofit organizations across the state this fall, bringing the total amount of company support to more than $1.6 million since the program began in 2005.

"PPL Montana is proud to partner with such high caliber nonprofit organizations in order to make our community a better place to live, work and play," said Lisa Perry, manager of Community Affairs for PPL Montana. "I am thrilled about this group of grant recipients and the difference they will be able to make in the lives of our neighbors, friends, family and co-workers." 

Through the grant program, PPL Montana has helped nearly 250 organizations that share the company's commitment to education, environmental responsibility and economic development.

"For eight years, PPL Montana's Community Fund has strengthened the company's partnerships with communities," Perry said. "It's one of our ways of saying thanks and making a difference in our home state."

Twice a year, the PPL Montana Community Fund Advisory Board awards $100,000 in grants to schools and nonprofit organizations for programs that address quality-of-life issues. The grants range from $1,000 to $10,000 each. The Fund's Advisory Board is made up of 18 people from the company and community who review grant applications from across the state. Individuals serve two years on the board.

The fall 2012 PPL Montana Community Fund grant recipients are:

Friends of Musselshell School, Musselshell, $10,000 - to replace 18 windows at this nonprofit community center, which was built in 1913.

Geyser / Raynesford Senior Center, Raynesford, $5,000 - to renovate two restrooms to accommodate larger crowds and to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Habitat for Humanity, Billings, $5,000 - to purchase a small truck, to be used by the ReStore store, and also help reduce fuel and maintenance fees.

Havre Chamber of Commerce, Havre, $3,000 - to support Leadership High School, a six-month program that promotes a better understanding of community and leadership skills, operated in the schools by the Chamber for the past 13 years.

Huntley Community Club, Huntley, $10,000 - to replace the playground equipment in Barkmeyer Park. 

Lewistown Art Center, Lewistown, $5,000 - to make repairs to the center's new building, including roof insulation and improvements to a handicap/fire exit door.

Montana Conservation Corp, Bozeman / Statewide, $10,000 - to leverage a $10,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation so that the organization can continue its work through its Youth Expeditions program.

Montana Natural History Center, Missoula, $8,000 - to support the center's work in creating educational packages of supplies and equipment that travel all over Western Montana supporting the "Visiting Naturalist in the Schools" program, reaching more than 1,700 children in 60 classrooms. 

NILE Foundation, Billings, $5,000 - to teach fourth graders in the Billings area the importance of agriculture to Yellowstone County and the state of Montana by teaching them about crops, beef, range, water, conservation and more. 

Red Feather Development Group, Bozeman / Lame Deer, $10,000 - to develop and implement sustainable housing solutions and home repair work, in partnership with the Northern Cheyenne Nation.

Schoolhouse History and Art Center, Colstrip, $10,000 - to repair the foundation of this historic building, which plays an integral role in the arts in southern Rosebud County.

Southwestern Montana YMCA, Dillon, $4,000 - to replace the therapy pool heater, which is the only pool of its kind within a 9,000 square mile area.

Wisdom Community Center, Wisdom, $5,000 - to repair water and sewer systems.

Yellowstone CASA, Billings, $10,000 - to recruit and train eight volunteers to serve as advocates for children in the courtroom.

PPL has 500 employees in Montana who generate and sell electricity. PPL Montana operates coal-fired power plants at Colstrip and Billings, as well as 11 hydroelectric power plants along Rosebud Creek and the Missouri, Madison, Clark Fork and Flathead rivers. It has a combined generating capacity of about 1,200 megawatts and has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. PPL EnergyPlus operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale and retail energy market. PPL Montana and PPL EnergyPlus are subsidiaries of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL).www.pplmontana.com.

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