CONTACT:
Maddie Garbalagtys, Drive Clean Colorado
[email protected] | 920-296-5665
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ready Foods Celebrates New Workplace EV Chargers with Ribbon Cutting Event
Drive Clean Colorado, Ready Foods, and Partners Gather to Support Workplace Charging
Denver, CO – November 7, 2024 – Ready Foods hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, November 7, celebrating the installation of three new electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, offering a total of six charging ports, at their workplace—a significant milestone in their commitment to sustainable transportation and workplace charging for employees. Drive Clean Colorado (DCC), along with additional collaborators, joined Ready Foods at the event to celebrate their dedication to clean transportation.
The project was funded primarily by the Colorado Energy Office’s Charge Ahead Colorado (CAC) grant, awarded in February 2024, with support from Drive Clean Colorado’s ReCharge Coach in the region to support the grant application process and ensure a successful charger installation.
As part of their commitment to empower employees to make informed choices about their transportation options, Ready Foods has signed DCC’s workplace charging initiatives pledge, Watts@Work. Through the Watts@Work pledge, Ready Foods commits to ensuring equitable distribution of EV charging access in workplaces across Colorado. With the newly installed chargers in place, the company plans to collaborate with DCC to host EV and Charging 101 workshops for employees, promoting EV adoption and awareness, and contributing to Colorado’s transition to cleaner transportation options.
“Ready Foods’ commitment to both workplace charging and fleet electrification is exemplary,” said Jessica Wright, Programs Director at Drive Clean Colorado. “We are proud to have them participating as an independent business in our Workplace Charging Initiative, Watts@Work, and look forward to continuing our partnership and supporting their clean transportation efforts.”
In addition to their CAC-funded workplace charging project, Ready Foods is further advancing their clean transportation efforts. The company is a member of the Colorado Green Business Network (CGBN) and was recently awarded the CDPHE Clean Fleet Vehicle & Technology Grant to further green their fleet. These achievements showcase Ready Foods’ commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable business practices.
Annelise McAuliffe Soares, Director of Marketing & Brand Stewardship at Ready Foods, stated, “We are thrilled to provide charging access to the neighborhood and our teammates who might not have the ability to charge conveniently at home. The support from the state of Colorado, Drive Clean Colorado, and our electrician team at Centerfield Electric has made this process seamless. We are a food manufacturer, but also believe in being a positive part of our community. This is one small way we can do that.”
The Charge Ahead Colorado program accepts applications year-round. Entities interested in workplace charging initiatives are encouraged to reach out to their regional ReCharge Coach for application assistance. Learn more about the Watts@Work program and CAC funding opportunities at Drive Clean Colorado’s website.
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About Drive Clean Colorado, a Clean Cities and Communities Coalition
Drive Clean Colorado (DCC), a U.S. Department of Energy designated coalition in the Clean Cities and Communities partnership, is a non-profit organization that delivers a variety of programs to accelerate the equitable adoption of clean transportation with the vision of cleaner air and economic growth for Colorado. DCC runs projects such as the Drive Electric Colorado program, the Watts@Work initiative for workplace charging, and hosts four ReCharge coaches for the Colorado Energy Office to provide grant coaching and EV awareness outreach. Learn more at DriveCleanColorado.org.
About Ready Foods
Ready Foods is a family-owned food manufacturing company dedicated to producing high-quality, innovative food products at scale for restaurants across North America. In Colorado since 1972, they focus on efficient manufacturing, while being a responsible business.
