Amador County – Pacific Gas & Electric will fund $9,000 in grants for regional economic development in the four-county area of Amador, Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Mariposa Counties.

Beth Hartline of the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority in Sonora said PG&E contributed funding to the Central Sierra Economic Partnership, as a whole, and to each of the four counties. The contributions have helped more than 155 retail and manufacturing businesses in the four-county region save more than $280,000 during 2010.

Larry Cope, Chairman of Central Sierra Economic Partnership, said PG&E is “continuing its long-standing commitment to support the economic vitality of the communities it serves.” PG&E again awarded grants, funded by its shareholders, to the Partnership.

Cope said the partnership “focuses on the economic development of Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne counties and works to bring together public and private resources to ensure the success of businesses in the Central Sierra Region.”

In 2011, PG&E has granted $9,000 to support regional economic development in the four counties. PG&E presented $5,000 to the CSEP, as well as $1,000 to each county. Over the past two years, PG&E has contributed a total of $18,000 to the organizations “for the purpose of holding local energy summits, promoting the use of PG&E’s energy conservation programs to our small and large retail businesses and manufacturers, recruitment of businesses, and toward increased economic viability of our rural communities.”

PG&E generated $200,000 in income to local contractors and provided jobs for 13 people in Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Mariposa counties.

Plans for 2011 include energy summits in Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa, to reach more business owners with cost- and energy-saving programs, including lighting and refrigeration replacement.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.