Vashon Allied Arts was recently awarded $7,000 from Puget Sound Energy to go toward construction of the new performing arts center it hopes to build at the corner of Vashon Highway and Cemetery Road.

VAA was one of 84 charitable organizations in the Puget Sound area to receive grants in December.

Allison Stanford, a spokeswoman for PSE, said the grants didn’t necessarily recognize sustainable energy use but simply went to organizations that PSE determined were making a difference in their local communities.

Molly Reed, VAA’s executive director, said the arts organization was thrilled to receive the grant, one of a few it has received for the multi-million-dollar center, which is still in its planning phase.

“We’re always pleased when someone values what we’re doing in the community,” she said.

PSE donated more than $640,000 to 161 nonprofits

in 2010.