Initiative prepares participants for a potential career in the energy and construction industries
Chester, VA – The NiSource Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Columbia Gas of Virginia, is proud to have sponsored the first-ever Engage Community Partnership Initiative in Virginia. The initiative gives qualified applicants educational opportunities to prepare them for a potential career in the energy and construction industries.
The participants, who just graduated from the program today, July 1, were from the Central Virginia area. To qualify, they had to be at least 18 years old and a high school graduate or have earned their GED.
The initiative started in April. Participants had access to subject matter experts from across the energy and construction industries. The experts provided in-person instruction on a range of topics from use of industry tools to human performance and equipment to blueprint reading.
“We are so proud of the graduates from this first cohort and all they’ve accomplished over the past 11 weeks,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “We are confident they are equipped with the skills and credentials they need to pursue all types of energy and construction-related jobs from trade positions to administrative roles.”
The second cohort for the 2025 Virginia Engage Community Partnership Initiative will start classes and instruction in late September.
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic organization of Columbia Gas’s parent company. Through the NiSource Foundation, Columbia Gas of Virginia provides more than $500,000 annually in financial contributions to charitable organizations that share our mission of meeting basic human needs. As part of that effort, we support many organizations that provide assistance during times of individual and community crisis including local food banks, relief agencies and emergency responders.
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 290,000 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.
