- HERO Grant Program will pay for training, equipment and new
technology to aid in response to weather-related disasters
- Giving exceeds $2 million
total through fourth year of the program
GREENVILLE, S.C., March 19,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- South
Carolina government agencies and nonprofits can now
apply for grants up to $20,000 to
fund training, life-saving equipment and innovative technology
to aid in weather-related disaster planning and recovery
operations.
What's happening: Duke Energy Foundation is offering
$500,000 through the 2025 Helping
Emergency Response Organizations (HERO) Grant Program to support
severe weather emergency preparedness across the Palmetto
State.
Why it matters: Hurricane Helene's impact on
South Carolina was historic,
widespread and deadly – forever changing lives and landscapes. The
storm also forced communities and their first responders to rethink
how they prepare for future severe weather events. Duke Energy
Foundation microgrants will help local governments and nonprofits
improve their planning and responses.
How it works
Application process: South Carolina nonprofits and
governmental agencies can apply for individual grants up to
$20,000 through April 25.
Eligible projects: Funding is available to support
equipment upgrades, communication tools, specialized training,
planning initiatives, severe weather materials and kits, storm
shelters and preparedness activities that benefit low-income
communities.
More info and application: Go to
duke-energy.com/SCHEROgrants for complete details.
By the numbers
- This is the fourth year of the $500,000 microgrant program – bringing total
support to $2 million.
- Since 2022, Duke Energy's HERO Grant Program has funded 99
microgrants, delivering critical support to nonprofits and local
agencies across South
Carolina.
What they're saying
- Tim Pearson, Duke Energy's
South Carolina president: "This
year's HERO grants are designed to help fill gaps identified when
responding to historic storms like Helene and will provide tools
and training to our fellow first responders to handle whatever
Mother Nature throws our way in the future."
- Jim Baber, chief of the Hodges-Cokesbury Fire Department in
Greenwood County: "We originally
anticipated using our UTV purchased with grant funds from Duke
Energy Foundation for wildland fires and EMS purposes. However,
during our response to Hurricane Helene, it proved invaluable in
getting crews and tools to places that our trucks could not reach.
We used it for tree removal as well as delivering food, water and
other necessities to residents that otherwise would have been
unable to get these supplies."
- Mac McMakin, chief of the
Travelers Rest Fire Department:
"Last year's grant from Duke Energy Foundation helped purchase new
protective gear for cutting trees and performing extrications. This
gear made it easier for our responders to work efficiently and
safely during recent storms and the brush fires that have impacted
our area. Small but impactful improvements in equipment like this
have a tremendous return in terms of responder performance, safety
and morale."
- Joshua Hawkins, director of
emergency management for Anderson
County Sheriff's Office: "The radio equipment acquired
through last year's Duke Energy Foundation grant allowed our crews
to prioritize and coordinate response activities, which was a key
element in getting our community back up and running after
Hurricane Helene. We are genuinely appreciative of Duke Energy's
commitment to the communities they serve."
Duke Energy Foundation
Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150
company headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies.
The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities
serve 1.7 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping
customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a
smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric
grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas,
nuclear, renewables and energy storage.
More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke
Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram
and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people
and innovations powering our energy transition.
Contact: Ryan Mosier
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy
