In the Community

As the only utility in the nation operating as a Public Charitable Trust, Citizens Energy Group functions as a partner with the community it serves. Citizens has a tradition of making investments that improve the quality of life in our community. From neighborhood revitalization efforts like Fall Creek Place and Christmas in April, to our support of college scholarships and our direct financial assistance to low-income customers, Citizens is focused on making Indianapolis a better place to live.

Neighborhood Revitalization

Martindale on the Monon
Citizens recently became the first private sector investor in what was soon to become Martindale on the Monon. A part of the Martindale-Brightwood area, Martindale on the Monon is an area just north of E. 16th Street between the Monon Trail and Dr. Andrew J., Brown Avenue. Vacant lots and deteriorating housing stock characterized the neighborhood until 12 new houses were constructed in the 1600-1800 blocks of Yandes Street . With a significant number of financial sources now onboard, Martindale on the Monon is being touted as one of the most significant housing developments in Marion County.

Commercial revitalization along the E. 16th Street corridor is enhancing the interest in living in the Martindale on the Monon. An official FOCUS Commercial Corridor, E. 16th Street is seeing beautification and redevelopment of business establishments as well as complete rehabilitation of blighted commercial structures.

Englewood Community Development
The Englewood Community Development Corporation has acquired and is revitalizing 7 near eastside houses as that organization continues its commitment to affordable neighborhood housing. Citizens is proud to be the lender of up to $200,000 toward this rehabilitation project.

Fab for Less
Citizens and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) joined forces to participate in funding the rehabilitation of three mixed-use vacant properties at the corners of State Street and English Avenue . The 2005 “Fab for Less” cottages are adjacent to these buildings. South East Neighborhood Development (SEND) one of the city's foremost community development corporations, has extensive experience in commercial redevelopment and has been the recipient of numerous LISC loans and grants. Citizens has been a long-time supporter of the activities of SEND.

East 10th Street
The East 10th Street Civic Association's 10 East Main Street Project is one of only two Main Street designees in Marion County . The project is a FOCUS Commercial Corridor. Working to improve the Main Street commercial area, the Civic Association has purchased and demolished vacant buildings to make way for new development. Citizens, LISC and others have partnered to assist the Association in its redevelopment efforts.

East Side Development
Indianapolis 's eastside has areas of residential blight, high foreclosure rates and disinvested commercial areas. In order to assist small businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals revitalize their neighborhoods; Citizens Energy Group and Community Hospital East have created a funding partnership, administered by the Community Choice Federal Credit Union. The Eastside Redevelopment Loan Fund provides low interest loans for acquisition and rehabilitation of existing housing stock, providing each house is then sold to an owner occupant.

Strategic Acquisitions Fund
In support of the FOCUS Commercial Corridor initiative, the Strategic Acquisitions Fund was established by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and a seed loan provided by Citizens Energy Group. The $250,000 Citizens loan will be leveraged with other funds to create a multi-million dollar flexible funding source for CDC's and other community organizations for real estate acquisitions strategically located and ripe for redevelopment.

Rebuilding The Wall
Rebuilding The Wall, a small neighborhood organization, needed only a few thousand dollars to complete one of five vacant houses in Center Township and provide a home for a pre-selected family. Citizens provided that loan and completion of the house is scheduled in 2006.

Helping Customers in Need

This past year Citizens facilitated distribution of about $3 million in financial assistance to low-income customers through its Universal Service Program (USP), its Warm Heart Warm Home Foundation™ and the Citizens Weatherization Program. The USP provided 10-25 percent gas bill discounts to about 18,000 low-income customers in need.

Economic Development

Sponsorship of an inventory of Indianapolis commercial, industrial and retail properties was granted to FOCUS and the Office of the Mayor for its new online Economic Development Portal. Available to anyone seeking access, the new Web portal will aid in all community economic development efforts.

Sponsorship of various Indianapolis Community Development Corporation annual fund raising functions assists these non-profits in their grassroots work to improve our communities.
Corporate sponsorship of the LISC Strategic Acquisition Financing Fund will assist Indianapolis Community Development Corporations in acquiring and holding until an appropriate buyer is found, commercial structures that now sit vacant, for sale or under-utilized. The first corporation to make a 3-year loan commitment, Citizens low-interest loan will strengthen CDC commercial capabilities and encourage other companies to participate.
Downtown brownfield issues continue to hinder commercial redevelopment in our inner city. A Citizens' loan to the Department of Metropolitan Development for Phase I environmental assessments has assisted the city at a time when its funding was insufficient to meet strategic redevelopment needs.

Investing in Education

Citizens Energy Group supports educational excellence from pre-school programs through post-graduate education.
Our utility provided the first ever corporate scholarship endowment for minority students to the Indiana University School of Dentistry in honor of Dr. Lehman Adams, Jr. Dr. Adams served on the Citizens Board of Trustees over 20 years.
Citizens participated in the Ivy Tech State College capital campaign to expand its healthcare curriculum and number of students, a project that will renovate a 17,000 sq.ft. facility at Ft. Harrison. Adding an educational institution to the area will also create a significant economic boon for the city.

This past year about 60 Citizens employees served as tutors for the United Way’s ReadUp program. The tutors helped at-risk fourth-graders at IPS School 14 make dramatic improvements in the their reading scores.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Career Academy, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana's first Charter School will open this fall with a mission of helping neighborhood youth achieve their fullest potential. Financial assistance for renovation of the education wing of the Goodwill building on the near westside of Indianapolis was a good fit for a Citizens grant.

A vacant grocery store will soon house the eastside Meadows area Charles A. Tindley Charter School. Targeting at-risk inner-city high school students, our operations grant will also help revitalize a blighted commercial area on the city's eastside.