Investing In Communities
Supporting community resilience
LOCAL PRIORITIES. LASTING IMPACT.
As a long-term owner and operator, we’re committed to building strong relationships in the communities where we operate. Every community has different strengths, challenges, and priorities, so we listen first to understand local needs and opportunities, then invest in programs and partnerships that reflect what matters most. While each community is unique, our investments are centered on education and workforce development, essential needs, and public safety and service.
COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS IN ACTION
Cypress Creek invests in organizations and initiatives that help communities become stronger and more resilient over the long term. We work alongside local leaders and residents, often through our Community Working Group model, to identify where our support can have the greatest impact. By bringing stakeholders together, we strengthen collaboration, align investments with local priorities, and help ensure they create meaningful, lasting benefits.
The examples below highlight just a few of the ways we partner with communities to create lasting local impact.
Creating a Playground for Every Child in Wilson, Arkansas
Listening to local priorities is the foundation of meaningful community investment. As the long-term owner and operator of the Steel River Energy Center, Cypress Creek has established a community investment fund to support the priorities that matter most to Mississippi County. The fund’s first investment is a $400,000 contribution to help build a new inclusive playground at Rivercrest Elementary School in Wilson, Arkansas, creating a place where children of all abilities can play, learn, and grow together.
Energizing Tomorrow’s Leaders Nationwide
Our annual Energizing Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship Program invests in students from communities where Cypress Creek develops and operates energy projects across the country. By supporting educational goals and encouraging interest in STEM and energy-related careers, the program helps prepare the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and community leaders.
Expanding STEM Learning in North and South Carolina
Since 2023, Cypress Creek has partnered with Betabox Learning to bring mobile STEM labs directly to middle and high school students in rural and underserved communities across North and South Carolina. To date, the initiative has reached more than 5,000 students, with plans to expand to 8–10 new counties and 2,100 additional students by end of 2026.
Community-Led Giving in Elbert County, Colorado
As part of the Sundance Solar project in Elbert County, Colorado, Cypress Creek Energy established a Community Working Group to help guide local investment decisions. Rather than deciding where funding should go, the company committed $100,000 annually for three years and empowered local leaders to identify the organizations and initiatives that would have the greatest impact.
To date, the Community Working Group has directed funding to schools, emergency services, the local Food Bank, Wood Bank, Elbert County Coalition Outreach, and other community priorities. The success of this approach has helped shape Cypress Creek’s Community Working Group model, creating a framework for meaningful local engagement in the communities where we develop, own, and operate projects.
Building the Energy Workforce in Oregon
Developing America’s energy infrastructure also means investing in the people who will build, operate, and maintain it. Through a four-year, $120,000 partnership with the Oregon Institute of Technology, Cypress Creek Energy is helping prepare the next generation of engineers and skilled energy professionals through scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and support for STEM education and workforce development programs. The partnership reflects our long-term commitment to expanding career opportunities and strengthening the talent pipeline for the energy industry.
Helping Veterans Launch Careers in the Commercial Drone Industry
Cypress Creek donated unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to Vets to Drones, a nonprofit nationwide organization that helps veterans build skills and pursue careers in the rapidly growing commercial drone industry. Through training, mentorship, and certification support, the program creates new opportunities for veterans transitioning to civilian careers.
To date, Vets to Drones has helped more than 2,500 veterans earn FAA Part 107 certification, equipping them with in-demand skills for careers across a range of industries.
Supporting Goldendale Parks in Klickitat County, Washington
Through the Carriger Solar project, Cypress Creek Energy partnered with the City of Goldendale to invest in improvements to three community parks identified by local residents and leaders as priorities. Cypress Creek contributed approximately $45,000, which helped leverage more than $75,000 in total park improvements through matching support from the City of Goldendale. Together, the investments funded inclusive playground equipment at Ekone Park, solar lighting at Little Klickitat River Park, and new bleachers at Goldendale Little League Park, creating welcoming spaces that will serve local families for years to come.
