Renewable energy company Drax announced today it has given out nearly $100,000 to local community improvement projects in Gloster, Mississippi, where Drax operates a wood pellet production facility. These funds come from the $250,000 Gloster Community Fund, which will be disbursed throughout 2024. The Fund is earmarked exclusively for initiatives that will improve quality of life and support grassroots activities in Gloster.
Drax has a designated Community Team, with a U.S. Community Manager and a local Community Liaison in Gloster. During the 2023-2024 year, our team led focus groups, listening sessions, and meetings with community leaders and residents. This active engagement is ongoing and has improved our understanding of the community’s concerns, priorities, and aspirations. The process has also helped Drax develop a full Community Engagement and Social Investment Plan for Gloster. Since April 2024, the Gloster Community Fund has awarded $98,000 to nine organizations.
$45,000 of that $98,000 was designated towards a new air conditioning system at the Gloster National Guard Armory, a building that was previously without a cooling system.
Matt White, Executive Vice President of Pellet Operations for Drax said:
“The armory is where family and community events are held and this latest addition will help improve the overall community experience, especially during those hot summer months. We were honored to work with Mayor Jerry Norwood to help make this long-awaited dream a reality.”
$7,000 went to the Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network for their Learning Village program. It’s a free summer enrichment program that provides hands-on, student-lead science education.
Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network’s Learning Village Camp
David Walker, President of the Wilk-Amite Youth Action Network said:
“The partnership with Drax means everything to this community. Their support of the Learning Village helped give 30 local kids access to STEM learning that will hopefully serve and inspire them for years to come.”
$8,000 has been earmarked for the Amite River Baptist Association Food Bank. This organization is helping feed needy senior citizens and at-risk community members.
Amite River Baptist Association Food Bank
Emanuel Powell, Jr., Director of the Amite River Baptist Association Food Bank said:
“Drax took us to the max, Drax helped us out a whole lot. We were able to get new equipment and we were able to purchase more food items. It was like a burden was removed when Drax came in and helped us.”
The Drax Community Fund has previously contributed to the Food Bank.
$5,000 is dedicated to Kidz Kingdom Childcare Center, an organization that’s working to enhance the education opportunities for kids in Amite County, MS.
Maria Montgomery, Owner of Kidz Kingdom Childcare Center said:
“Drax was a blessing to us because we were struggling. Thanks to Drax, we were able to cover a lot of our administrative needs, but most importantly, we were able to help buy educational supplies and toys to help further our kids’ education and opportunities.”
Other organizations awarded are the MS-Lou Health and Wellness Camp, Field Health System, the Gloster Chamber of Commerce, Amite School System, and Catrena Seiber Cotton.
Prior Drax investments in Amite County include the donation of $130,000 towards the creation of a walking track in the Gloster area, a turkey giveaway event for 200 households in Amite County during the 2023 holiday season, sponsored STEM-focused programs for children, and financial assistance to local groups following natural disasters.
The non-profit organizations awarded through the Gloster Community Fund applied for funding through an application process. To learn more about the Drax Community Fund or to apply for funding, visit www.drax.com/ms.
Contact Information:
Michelli Martin
Communications Manager, US
318-372-3988
[email protected]
About Drax
Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.
Drax’s approximately 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information, visit www.drax.com.
