Equipment Controls Company (ECCO), a family-owned, natural gas measurement equipment company in Norcross, Georgia, recently made a $3,000 contribution to Huntsville Utilities' Project Share Program. The donation was made as part of the company's annual commitment to the national Giving Tuesday campaign.

"It all comes down to people," said Jon Beam, Utility/AMI Sales Director for ECCO. "You need to lift those up closest to you. And it's kind of like paying it forward. Hopefully someday the people who this helps will be able to help someone else out." He added, "You've got to protect your home, your community. People look to utility companies to be leaders in their community, and I think this is a great way to do that."

Project Share launched in December 1988 to help elderly, disabled and handicapped customers pay utility bills during the winter months. One hundred percent of funds contributed to Project Share go directly to those in need.

Since its inception in 1988, more than 30,000 local families have received assistance from the program, and more than $5.5 million has been contributed.

During the winter months of January, February and March 2023, Project Share funds assisted 667 families with the payment of their utility bills. During this time frame, a total of $147,968.93 was awarded in helping these families with the gas and electric portions of their bills, an average of $221.84 per family. Funds from Project Share are also used to provide energy efficiency home upgrades to low-income homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient and lower their bills. 

The Salvation Army reviews applications and distributes funds for Project Share.

ECCO is one of the largest North American distributors of natural gas measurement products, gas control products, data acquisition products and services. They have warehouse/office locations in Sparta, MI, Indianapolis, IN, Sugar Land, TX, and Sandy, UT with additional sales offices in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Todd Long and Amanda Tomczyk-Kemp, co-hosts of Huntsville Utilities' HUTV podcast, spoke with Mr. Beam about why ECCO chose to make this donation and their other philanthropic efforts. That episode can be viewed on the Huntsville Utilities YouTube channel here.

To learn more about Project Share, visit www.hsvutil.org/projectshare. To learn more about ECCO, visit www.equipmentcontrols.com