Avista

Our teams have been busy this summer sharing more about - ⚡Energy efficiency 🛡️ Bill assistance 💧 Clean energy And more! From Latinos en Spokane's El Mercadito to the NEZ PERCE TRIBAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Home Fair and beyond, we’re grateful for the chance to connect with and support our communities.❤️ #AvistaUtilities #EnergyEfficiency

For many of its patrons, the century-old Skyway Cafe is more than just a restaurant. Constructed in 1924, the iconic café still stands overlooking the runway at Felts Field in Spokane Valley, the region's first international airport. ”We have a large clientele that has been coming here for so long," said Owner Sandra Melter. "We know them by name. If our elderly customers haven't come in for a few days, we'll check on them." The restaurant holds a special place in Sandra's heart. As a little girl, she recalls watching airplanes while eating ice cream on the front lawn of the small diner. Her mother worked at Skyway as a cook for 17 years. Sandra still cooks on weekends and uses family recipes from her mother and grandmother, all made from scratch. Sandra and her ex-husband, John Melter, are the longest-running Skyway Café owners in its history. They pride themselves on maintaining the 1950s-diner-themed establishment, complete with mismatched silverware, retro décor and a classic menu. Since the two acquired Skyway 18 years ago, it has been a work in progress. The Melters upgraded all the café's equipment at least once and renovated the interior into a comfortable, functional space. According to John, it was essential for them to provide a homey space where their customers want to spend time. The warm, inviting atmosphere is enhanced by license plates, posters, old photographs, model airplanes, and personal memorabilia lining the walls and ceiling. Most pieces are donated by long-time customers looking for a home for their memories. Located close to some of Avista's offices, Avista employees have been known to drop in for a meal. One such visitor recommended that Sandra take advantage of Avista's small business direct-install lighting program. The program upgraded the building's lighting, and Avista covered the entire $29,000 project cost. ”Our energy bill has gone down quite a bit," said Sandra. "The lighting is so much better and brighter." Washington and Idaho Avista small business customers can easily qualify for lighting upgrades like this. Better still, Avista typically covers 100% of the project costs. If your small business could benefit from fresh lighting and energy savings, sign up for Avista's program now at https://lnkd.in/g4UV8ise.

For a limited time only, residential Washington Avista electric customers enrolled in our My Energy Discount program can get a one-time $200 Clean Energy Grant bill credit. We estimate nearly one in three Washington Avista customers qualify. Thousands of customers who have received energy assistance in the past are already enrolled. However, because eligibility guidelines for My Energy Discount include higher incomes than typical assistance programs, thousands more don’t realize they qualify. In fact, over 100,000 eligible Washington customers have yet to sign up. We all know people who qualify for this money-saving program. Help us spread the word by telling your friends, family, co-workers and employees about it. See household size and income guidelines and sign up now at https://lnkd.in/gRZYyvH6. Find details about the limited time Clean Energy Grant bill credit in the comments.

Did you know Shriners Children’s Hospital has been caring for kids for 100 years? Each year, the children’s hospital in Spokane helps thousands of children from Washington, Montana, Idaho, Alaska and Canada.  Avista crews were onsite recently to help the Spokane hospital begin its celebration by hanging large banners on the hospital building. Congratulations on a century of caring, Shriners Children's!

The Johnson family is bringing modern-day treasure hunting to life in historic Wallace, Idaho. Dealers in spectacular gems, minerals, collectibles and other rare finds; they pride themselves on having a store – Johnson's Gems and Collectibles - only 48 steps from the center of the universe. Not only is the business close to the universe's center, but the store's Galaxy Room feels like it’s in another dimension. Its fantastical fluorescent light show features vibrant hues from rocks and minerals under UV light. The Galaxy Room is only a tiny part of the family's extensive offerings. Two floors are packed with unique items and merchandise, some dating back generations. Rows of glass cases boast the largest selection of 'museum-quality' rocks, minerals, and gemstones in the Inland Northwest. Johnson Gems started when Brenda’s husband, Eddie, and son, Fred, mined deep purple Idaho Star Garnets to craft custom jewelry in a small shed on their property. Business grew quickly and they opened their Downtown Wallace store in 2015. Fred transforms the precious stones into one-of-a-kind custom pieces to match each customer's specifications. All the work is done on-site. Eddie is a third-generation silver miner. He started at Bunker Hill, once the largest smelting facility in the world, and later worked at the Lucky Friday mine until he retired three years ago. Eddie applies his understanding of the industry and the historic Silver Valley to help the business grow. In early 2024, Johnson's Gems and Collectibles moved across the street into a three-story, over 4,000-square-foot building, which allowed them to expand their inventory. Before setting up shop, they renovated the basement and two levels of the historic building. Avista's Small Business Direct-Install Lighting Program helped make the upgrades a reality. The program covered the entire $42,652 project. In just two days, 63 old light fixtures were replaced with energy-saving LED fixtures equipped with occupancy controls, so they’ll only turn on when people are in the room. Avista small business customers in Washington and Idaho can easily qualify for lighting upgrades like this. Plus, Avista typically covers 100% of the project costs. If your small business could use a lighting refresh and benefit from energy savings too, sign up for Avista's program now at https://lnkd.in/g4UV8ise.

For owner Nicholas DeCaro, Island Style Food & BBQ pays homage to his family and cherished memories of preparing authentic Micronesian cuisine together. Despite his family’s influence, Nicholas worked outside the food industry, finding success in real estate. Then, a car accident changed everything. It led him through a vicious cycle of crippling pain, loss, addiction, and, eventually, prison. The love he had for his son helped him turn things around. "I lost a great deal. Then I realized my son lost all that, plus his father," said Nicholas. "I vowed to change my life." One week after leaving prison, he enrolled in Spokane Community College. He then earned a full scholarship to Whitworth University, where he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in sculpture and administration. In a class taught by Kevin Parker, Dutch Bros. Coffee owner, Nicholas focused on his business plan to open a food truck. The class gave him the momentum he needed to chase his dream. Determined to succeed and assuming the name Chef Sin, which in Chamorro means warrior, he started preparing cultural delights in an 18-foot food truck. He and two partners opened Island Style Foods & BBQ during the pandemic to lines of hungry patrons who waited patiently for his creative entrees. Growing demand prompted a transition from his food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant, which took 11 months to renovate. DeCaro utilized Avista's Small Business Direct-Install Lighting Program to upgrade lighting throughout the 2,000-square-foot building and its parking lot. The program covered the entire $6,452 project cost, making the upgrades free of charge for Nicholas. "Lighting can influence the mood of a restaurant and make the space feel more inviting," said Rachelle Humphrey, Avista Senior Program Manager. "From reading the menu to enjoying the food, new lighting can improve customer experience – which is good for any business." Avista small business customers in Washington and Idaho can easily qualify for lighting upgrades like this. Plus, Avista is typically able to cover 100% of the project costs. "The LED lights in the parking lot are phenomenal," said Nicholas. "They brightened it up and made it safer for our employees." Now, with both the restaurant and life shining brightly, Nicholas is looking forward. He’s working on a 24-foot trailer for catering and events, which will expand his services and allow for travel. If your small business could benefit from fresh lighting and energy savings, sign up for Avista’s program now at https://lnkd.in/g4UV8ise.

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

With her sleeves rolled up and wearing a vibrant yellow safety vest, Lacey McKenna leads a group of women on a four-hour expedition deep inside the West Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. Carrying shovels and pickaxes, the small group is planting trees. Lacey's crew is part of a larger collective of volunteers who worked to increase Spokane’s urban canopy coverage during the Lands Council SpoCanopy Week. The unique event was part of the overall Expo '74 50th Anniversary celebration. Over the five-day event in May of 2024, hundreds of volunteers planted 782 mature street trees, targeting low-income neighborhoods with the least canopy coverage and disproportionate environmental disparities. In addition to West Central, the week focused on the Emerson-Garfield neighborhood, Spokane Conservation District, and the Appleway Trail. Increasing urban green spaces provides significant environmental, economic and health benefits. A healthy canopy can filter pollutants, lessen the urban heat dome effect and lower energy costs. It further creates a habitat for migratory birds and enhances property value. Each tree location was carefully considered, putting the right tree in the right place to ensure the trees do not interfere with power lines, other utility connections, or sidewalks. Avista championed the week-long event by awarding the Lands Council a Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) grant. This crucial funding enabled the nonprofit to develop outreach materials for planting sites, coordinate the event and provide refreshments for the volunteers. “We reached out to Avista because they invest back into the community, especially marginalized communities,” said Jasmine Vilar, Development Director for the Lands Council. The SpoCanopy project represents a collaboration between the Lands Council, the City of Spokane Urban Forestry and the Spokane Conservation District. Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) was approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission as part of the company's Clean Energy Investment Plan (CEIP) to meet compliance targets for the state's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA, 2019). The NCIF will invest up to $5 million annually in projects, programs, and initiatives that benefit Avista's Washington electric customers residing in historically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities (i.e., "Named Communities"). Community-based projects will be selected for funding through a competitive grant application process. Application information and eligibility guidelines can be found at myavista.com/NCIF.

With the help of Avista, the Kettle Falls Community Chest food bank has undergone a major energy efficiency renovation that will help them continue their work to feed hundreds of families in rural Eastern Washington. The community was able to see the upgrades at an open house in June. Some improvements include: 💡 energy efficient lighting 🌟 new windows ✔ improved insulation Upgrades like this will help the Kettle Falls Community Chest reduce their energy costs so they can put more resources toward serving the community. The Community Chest provides free food to more than 160 families every month from across #KettleFalls and nearby areas. This renovation was made possible thanks to a grant from Avista’s Named Community Investment Fund, Avista rebates and a USDA Rural Development loan and grant. For more information about how Avista can help small businesses with energy efficiency upgrades, search for the Small Business Partner Program on our website. Avista's Named Communities Investment Fund (NCIF) was approved by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission as part of the company's Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP) to meet compliance targets for the state's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA, 2019). The NCIF will invest up to $5 million annually in projects, programs, and initiatives that benefit Avista's Washington electric customers residing in historically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities (i.e., "Named Communities"). Community-based projects will be selected for funding through a competitive grant application process. Application information and eligibility guidelines can be found at myavista.com/NCIF.

Avista employees are rolling up their sleeves to help save lives this summer. Several of our workforce donated blood during a recent blood drive; according to Vitalant, their donations have the potential to save as many as 96 lives. Blood donations often slow in the summer, but the need is still great, as every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Vitalant to make a difference in our communities. #AvistaUtilities #Vitalant #DonateBlood