Columbia City Connect is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with NIPSCO as part of the energy company’s 2025 Charity of Choice Campaign. On Friday, September 19, downtown Columbia City will become the focus of a dedicated volunteer effort, with NIPSCO employees and Columbia City Connect working side-by-side to spruce up the heart of our community and support local businesses with maintenance projects.
NIPSCO’s Charity of Choice is an annual, employee-driven initiative that encourages teams across northern Indiana to give back through hands-on service. Backed by the NiSource Charitable Foundation, this campaign empowers employees to choose meaningful volunteer opportunities in the communities where they live and work. In recent years, the impact has been impressive. In 2024 alone, over 550 NIPSCO employees contributed thousands of volunteer hours to more than 30 nonprofit organizations throughout the region. Whether planting native species, restoring community centers, or supporting local charities, Charity of Choice has become a symbol of NIPSCO’s commitment to service, people and place.
Why Columbia City Connect?
This year, out of many worthy organizations, NIPSCO chose to partner with Columbia City Connect. It’s an honor to be selected, and it shows the value of the work our organization is doing in downtown Columbia City. Together, we’ll be focusing on a range of improvement efforts throughout the downtown district. From painting and trash pick-up to beautifying outdoor spaces and checking off important maintenance tasks submitted by local business owners. These are the kinds of behind-the-scenes projects that help keep downtown looking its best and create a more welcoming space for residents and visitors alike.
This partnership reflects NIPSCO’s mission: giving employees the choice to support meaningful, local volunteer projects. As Tara McElmurry of NIPSCO Communications explains in a 2023 interview with NWI Life, “Service to our customers and communities takes many forms. The annual Charity of Choice program allows us to give back to the communities where we are privileged to live and work.” By enabling employees to choose causes they care about, NIPSCO cultivates a deep sense of ownership and pride in their volunteer efforts. We are thrilled they chose to partner with us for this year’s campaign.
What to Expect on September 19
NIPSCO’s team will spend the day volunteering alongside Columbia City Connect’s board members and staff. This collaboration will uplift local businesses, restore pride in public spaces, and strengthen the connection between corporations and the communities they serve. NIPSCO’s community engagement stands out not only for the resources they bring but also for the enthusiasm their employees bring to every project. This effort goes beyond checking boxes, it involves showing up, rolling up sleeves and making a visible difference.
How Business Owners Can Get Involved
For Columbia City Connect, this partnership underscores our mission to revitalize and support our downtown district. It also provides a chance for business owners to receive much-needed assistance on small but meaningful projects that might otherwise fall through the cracks. If you’re a downtown business owner and have maintenance tasks on your list, be sure to reach out to Abby at [email protected] no later than Friday, August 15th for consideration.
Not every request may be selected due to time limitations, but every effort will be made to match tasks with available volunteers.
A Shared Commitment to Community
This event is more than a day of service. It’s a testament to what’s possible when business and community come together for the common good. We are proud to welcome NIPSCO’s volunteers to our streets and thankful for their investment in the place we call home.
