Nicor Gas awards $100,000 in grants to support career readiness and educational programs throughout its service territory

Naperville, Ill. Dec. 16, 2024 – Building on its dedication to creating opportunities and fostering a skilled and diverse workforce in the communities it proudly serves, Nicor Gas is announcing $100,000 in grants awarded to organizations that support educational and career readiness programs.

"Education is fundamental to building strong communities and a thriving workforce and Nicor Gas is dedicated to supporting organizations focused on educational and career readiness programs," said Jackie Nagel, manager of Community Engagement at Nicor Gas. "These grants highlight our commitment to empowering individuals through education and equipping them for successful careers."

Nicor Gas awarded 24 organizations with grants to support their educational and career readiness programs including:

Cook County:

• Center for Success: Provides programs and services for low-income, historically underserved students including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses, college visits, cultural and service events and support for preparing college and post-secondary school applications.
• Clearbrook: Supports a work training program for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities.
• Inscite Illinois: Supports a program that provides STEM education, application experience, workforce skills development and ongoing mentoring.
• Youth Job Center of Evanston: Supports programming including job skills, resume writing, a career pathways program and workplace learning opportunities.

DeKalb County:

• Northern Illinois University: Supports a sponsorship of STEM Fest, which provides hands-on activities, presentations by top scientists, explorations of STEM careers, exhibits and demonstrations for people of all ages.

DuPage County:

• Career and Networking Center: Provides services aimed at enhancing economic stability including career development workshops, job placement services, skill enhancement programs and individual career counseling.
• Compudopt: Supports a program for middle school students to problem-solve, think critically and collaborate as they engage in hands-on, project-based activities that explore technologies across industries to solve an art heist.
• DuPage Children’s Museum: Provides arts and STEM programming for early learners through Wonder Clubs, Learning Labs and other hands-on experiences that engage youth in STEM.
• Green Halo: Provides comprehensive, year-round college admissions support to first-generation and/or low-income high school students including college matching, financial aid guidance and alumni support.
• KidsMatter: Offers students the opportunity to meet and network with dozens of area companies who are hiring, as well as receive assistance with their resumes, participate in mock interviews and learn about financial literacy.
• Literacy DuPage: Supports a program to aid English language learners to acquire English listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Kane County:

• GCAMP: Provides manufacturing industry education to students including robotics, automation and engineering.
• Literacy Volunteers Fox Valley: Supports two tutor training workshops, including enrolling and pre-testing adult students, recruiting and training volunteer tutors, matching adult learners with volunteer tutors and providing initial support.

LaSalle County:

• YMCA Ottawa: Supports the Kid Spark program with curriculum introducing STEM concepts such as structural engineering, robotics and 3D prototyping.

Livingston County:

• Boys and Girls Club of Livingston County: Provides a comprehensive science, technology, engineering, math and arts (STEAM) program to promote interest in and awareness of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math for youth in all grade levels, with a focus on robotics.

McHenry County:

• Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs: Supports Summer Manufacturing Camps for students ages 12-16 to expose them to career pathways and inspire them to pursue manufacturing careers. Includes basic machining, fabrication, welding and 3D print activities.

McLean County:

• Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal: Provides each program site with resources and supplemental curriculum materials in the five core programming areas, including leadership/service, education and workforce readiness and the arts.
• Illinois State University Foundation: Supports a sponsorship for the annual business week event, engaging students in professional development, leadership skills and networking.
• Junior Achievement of Central Illinois: Supports an online interactive expo for students to gain employment skills, career planning and identifying high growth careers.

Will County:

• After the Peanut Foundation: Supports students designing a local community center that incorporates solar panels and green spaces. This hands-on project involves research, planning, designing, constructing models and presenting innovative sustainable solutions.
• Lewis University: Supports a program to engage girls in STEM-related careers through a summer camp that provides computer science related programming related to animal-themed animatronics, design studio activities and robotics.
• The Bridge Teen Center: Provides a job readiness training program that is designed to provide a structured environment for students at The Bridge Thrift Store in a designated role.

Winnebago County:

• Sybaquay Girl Scout Council: Provides programming through an innovation station/maker space which allows girls in grades 9 - 12 to explore and learn about STEM activities, careers and interests.
• YMCA of Rock River Valley: Supports underserved students with programming that includes tutoring services, homework assistance and workshops focused on improving study skills, time management and test preparation.

To learn more about Nicor Gas’ commitment to educational initiatives and career readiness programs, visit www.NicorGas.com/Community

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About Nicor Gas
Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.

About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and more than 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other nonutility businesses include investments in interstate pipelines, asset management for natural gas wholesale customers and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities.

Media Contact:
Nicole Frett
nfrett@southernco.com