Idaho National Laboratory proud of its history of giving

Idaho National Laboratory’s http://www.inl.gov contractor and employees donated more than $1.25 million to community programs in 2008 and well over $3 million since the Battelle Energy Alliance took over the INL contract in 2005.

BEA has provided corporate funding for educational, philanthropic and technology-based economic development programs. Combined with employee contributions to fundraising and volunteer projects, INL is continually striving to make a positive impact on the eastern Idaho community.

INL’s education program office has contributed more than $1.2 million since 2005 to enhance K through 12 programs that promote science, technology, engineering and math. Its goal is to encourage students to pursue careers in these areas. Educational outreach programs that receive INL contributions include:

• High school student and teacher summer internships.

• INL Scholastic Tournament.

• Education mini-grants to teachers throughout Idaho. Since 2005, BEA has awarded 120 mini-grants totaling more than $212,000.

• Mayor’s Scholarship Fund for local junior high and high school students. INL contributes $10,000 each year.

• Hispanic Youth Symposium, which encourages Latino teens to pursue education and brings regional universities together to offer scholarships to participants. In 2008, the universities awarded $2.2 million to more than 130 Idaho students.

• Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC) Foundation receives $10,000 a year from INL for EITC student scholarships.

• Project Lead the Way: Skyline High School and Eagle Rock Junior High School were selected to host this pilot math, science and technology program. Its state-of-the-art training program centers on developing better problem-solving skills by immersing students in real-world engineering problems. BEA has partnered with Idaho Falls School District 91 to invest a total of $120,000 over five years.

INL also funds philanthropic projects that focus on community, health and human services, and culture. INL corporate funding has given more than $600,000 to support more than 100 agencies and programs in the past three years. These contributions include:

• The annual United Way fund drive. BEA employees have contributed $949,000 since 2005. BEA employee contributions for the 2009 campaign are expected to exceed $300,000. Corporate contributions have added $150,000 since 2005.

• Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center, Development Workshop, American Red Cross, Idaho Meth Project.

• Numerous nonprofit agencies that feed, clothe or provide shelter and services to the less fortunate in surrounding communities.

• Team INL volunteer program. A little bit of funding, and employee volunteers, have completed more than 70 projects since June 2006. They remodeled the Blackfoot Head Start building, painted the Development Workshop building, built a rappelling wall for children with cancer at Camp Magical Moments in Swan Valley and organized two sitewide food drives, yielding over 15,000 pounds of canned food and $4,000 in donations.

• Christmas for Families program. This year, BEA supported nearly 90 families with more than 350 children. BEA provided food and supplies while INL employees purchased and wrapped gifts for the children.

• Holiday donations to the Idaho Falls Soup Kitchen, St. Vincent de Paul, Marine’s Toys for Tots, Butte County Wish Upon a Star program and the Salvation Army’s Christmas Bell Ringing program.

INL provides more than $375,000 each year to technology-based economic development partners. Partnerships and contributions include:

• Idaho TechConnect, the state’s only private-public nonprofit organization focused solely on technology development, transfer and commercialization. Six regional offices work with entrepreneurs and companies to turn Idaho ideas into Idaho businesses.

• Idaho Economic Development Association (IEDA) works with INL to elevate tech-based economic development strategies, emphasize professional development and highlight Idaho tech industry successes.

• TechLaunch is an educational event in which the above two groups work with INL, the Idaho Deparrtment of Commerce and other organizations to teach entrepreneurs how to pitch their ideas to investors. So far, 37 companies have participated, raising more than $33 million in research and development investment funds.

• Idaho Entrepreneurial Project, an INL-led effort to grow Idaho’s economy. It educates students at every grade level, identifies internship opportunities and assists employees in owning and operating their own businesses, or helps an existing company grow.

• The INL Technical Assistance Program provides expertise to help state and local governments and small businesses. Organizations can receive up to 40 hours of INL employee time to address technical needs that commercially available resources can’t readily meet. Since 2005, INL has provided $315,000 and completed 92 projects, including structural evaluation of a proposed Family Justice Center building, a waste-water treatment facility evaluation and a quartz glass furnace for the University of Idaho.