Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Donates Two Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations to ASSETS' Lancaster Works
Annual savings from in-house transportation to be reinvested in Lancaster Works, allowing ASSETS to grow by 25% and help place an additional 60+ workers
LANCASTER, PA, March 31, 2021 /3BL Media/ – ASSETS, the Lancaster-based nonprofit that works with businesses to help transform the community, will now have its own sustainable transportation for its social enterprise employment agency, Lancaster Works. Thanks to a nearly $132,000 sustainability grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, ASSETS purchased two pre-owned 7-passenger Tesla Model X vehicles and installed two Level 2 charging stations to provide clean transportation to individuals seeking to improve their economic opportunities in Lancaster County.
With the implementation of this new electric vehicle (EV) initiative, Lancaster Works will no longer outsource transportation to third-party vendors reducing their annual costs by 85%, allowing ASSETS to grow by 25% and help serve and place an additional 60+ workers. The increase in job placement is equivalent to a direct impact of $350,000 in five years, which will further enhance the sustainability of the organization.
To celebrate the milestone, ASSETS hosted a dedication event for the EVs with the participation of Lancaster City Mayor Danene Sorace, Lancaster County Commissioner Ray D’Agostino and Pennsylvania Department of General Services Secretary Curtis Topper. Representatives from ASSETS and Lancaster Works showcased the two Tesla Model X vehicles with Falcon Wing doors opening during the event. With the most storage space and towing capacity of any electric SUV, and seating for up to seven adults, the Tesla Model X delivers maximum utility for Lancaster Works’ EV initiative to improve their beneficiaries’ mobility and increase access to jobs while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.
“We are humbled and honored by being chosen to partner with Green Mountain Energy and make an affirmative statement in favor of advancing environmental sustainability,” said Tyrone Miller, chief executive officer of ASSETS. “It is our hope this partnership will exemplify the importance of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club’s vision to see all communities achieve long-term sustainability with the quality of life and environmental resources necessary to thrive.”
Green Mountain Energy, the nation’s longest-serving renewable energy retailer, founded Sun Club in 2002 to advance sustainability by partnering with nonprofit organizations engaged in meaningful work to support the communities the company serves. ASSETS is one of more than 120 projects to receive a sustainability grant since Sun Club’s founding. The grants are awarded to nonprofits seeking to implement projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.
“Green Mountain Energy’s goal with Sun Club grants is to promote sustainability in the community while at the same time supporting important causes. Nonprofit organizations understand better than anyone else their communities' needs and the best ways to meet them,” said Mark Parsons, vice president and general manager of Green Mountain Energy. “With the addition of the two Tesla Model X, ASSETS increases its program capacity, saves funds for its core mission and reduces its environmental impact. This is a great example of what we are able to achieve by working with nonprofits.”
Lancaster Works is Lancaster County’s only social enterprise employment agency. ASSETS founded the agency in 2017 envisioning a community in which all residents have access to family-sustaining employment. To do this, Lancaster Works connects companies seeking a high-quality workforce with employees who are prepared for success. In 2019, 250 candidates were successfully placed. Over 60% of the beneficiaries require transportation assistance accounting for over 180 miles in round trips driven daily.
For more information about ASSETS’ Lancaster Works efforts to promote job placement in Lancaster County, visit lancasterworks.org.
####
About ASSETS and Lancaster Works
Since our founding in 1993, ASSETS has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and small business owners by providing access to the resources they need to succeed. In 2017, ASSETS announced the addition of another tool to the ASSETS tool-belt—Lancaster Works at ASSETS. Wholly owned by ASSETS, Lancaster Works is Lancaster County’s first and only full-service pending B Corporation social enterprise employment agency. Our focus is to provide career placement and wrap-around support services for local residents who might otherwise struggle to find meaningful work that pays a livable wage. Our services enhance each worker’s ability to succeed in identifying and navigating a path towards their goals.
About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club
Green Mountain Energy is changing the way power is made and advancing sustainable communities through the work of the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, the Sun Club® had donated more than $10 million to more than 122 non-profit organizations across Texas and the Northeast. The Sun Club collaborates with non-profit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship. To learn more about (Green Mountain Energy and) the Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit gmesunclub.org.
