Chester, VA – Today, Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc., in partnership with the NiSource Charitable Foundation, is announcing the distribution of grants to approximately 15 volunteer fire departments across the Commonwealth, including five in Central, Southern and Eastern Virginia. The grants help bolster the mission of the fire departments as they work to keep their communities safe.
“We truly value our strong relationships with local volunteer fire departments all across Virginia. They are a key partner when it comes to natural gas safety and emergency response,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “We’re proud to provide these grants to support their hard work, commitment, dedication and day-to-day operations.”
In Virginia’s Central, Southern and Eastern regions, the following fire departments each received grants for $1,000: Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department, Enon Volunteer Fire Department, Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad, Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department and South Hill Volunteer Fire Department.
“The Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department is grateful for Columbia Gas’s investment in local fire and emergency services,” said Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department Deputy Chief Charlie Kempton. “Grant funding provided by Columbia Gas will allow the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department to obtain equipment and resources necessary to enhance our ability to safely and effectively respond to emergencies, including incidents involving natural gas.”
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic organization of Columbia Gass parent company. Through the NiSource Charitable Foundation, Columbia Gas of Virginia provided approximately $500,000 in 2025 in financial contributions to charitable organizations that share our mission of meeting basic human needs, community connections, STEAM education and environmental stewardship.
For more information on how Columbia Gas of Virginia gives back to the community, visit our website.
About the NiSource Charitable Foundation
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and serves as the charitable arm for NiSource Inc. and its companies operating under the NIPSCO and Columbia Gas brands. The Foundation’s mission is to create strong and sustainable communities where our employees and customers live and work. The Foundation lives up to its mission by providing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and by encouraging employee volunteerism. Learn more at www.NiSource.com/Foundation.
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, dependable and efficient natural gas to approximately 293,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
