Longleaf, County Establish TECH Scholarship Fund
Early County and Longleaf Energy officials have signed a letter of agreement which will establish a $100,000 TECH Scholarship Fund.
TECH, which stands for “Training Early County and Houston County,” is intended to help defray tuition expenses and other expenses associated with obtaining educational training in engineering and other related technical fields, including, but not limited to, training in the construction trades.
“We appreciate the commitment the company is making in the community and surrounding area,” stated commission chairman Richard Ward. “We don’t have many opportunities to make scholarships available. Anytime we do it’s a plus.”
The agreement calls for the Early County Board of Commissioners to appoint a scholarship fund board and establish an agreement between the company, the board and the escrow agent.
According to the agreement, Early County will be represented on the board by at least two members. The City of Blakely, the City of Gordon, the City of Columbia and Houston County, Alabama will be represented by at least one member.
Longleaf Energy Associates officials made the county aware earlier this year that the company would like to make a monetary contribution to establish a scholarship fund with the help of the county. The county agreed in principle to the proposal at their April meeting.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to make a commitment to Early County and the surrounding communities to support educational training that can improve the overall quality of life in the region,” stated Longleaf project manager Mike Vogt.
The company’s contribution to the scholarship fund will be contingent on the closing of construction financing and the start of construction of the company’s proposed coal-fired power plant in Early County.
The company will make four annual installments of $25,000 each to the scholarship fund with the first being due 30 days after the start of construction.
Attributed to:
Early County News
May 10, 2006