The Couillard Solar Foundation (CSF) of Deerfield, WI has formally launched its new enterprise, DBA Couillard Canopies. Couillard Canopies is the creator and manufacturer of Couillard Solar Pergolas for residential applications and Solar Pavilions for commercial use. While the organization is a non-profit, Couillard Canopies’ sales will serve as its fundraising enterprise, a unique attribute of the innovative foundation.

The Team was recently awarded the Department of Energy Solar American-Made Network Solar Ready! Prize of $75,000 for further development of the product as it moves into the market.

In August, the team brought on Jim Zirbel, serial innovator, to serve as launch leader, creating the enterprise and support mechanisms for Couillard’s marketing model of registered Couillard Canopy Partners. Panel sales rep and grant support team member Mark Kovelan is working with Jim and the Couillard team to share the partnership opportunity through WI, IL, MN and IA in the next year. Engineering team member Amer Arafat and Founder Cal Couillard is involved intimately in the operational mechanisms including engineering and supply chain for the enterprise.

The Couillard Solar Foundation’s mission is reducing reliance on fossil fuels through grants and education.  Founded in 2018 by Cal and Laurie Couilliard in 2018, the foundation has placed a whopping 250 major solar projects on schools and nonprofits since 2018.  Their  board believes these grants represent the greatest sustainable impact on not only their ongoing costs, but saving nonprofits time otherwise spent searching for donations to cover energy costs, not a part of their mission. To see more about the Couillard Solar Foundation, go to www.couillardsolarfoundation.org