Through Central Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up® grant program will surpass $200,000 in local impact after the board of trustees recently pledged $13,800 to support area projects.
Operation Round-Up, participating cooperative members round up their monthly electric bill to the next whole dollar, and the contributions are pooled together to support local causes. Several Central Electric employees also contribute to the fund.
Upon reviewing applications from several worthy organizations, the Operation Round-Up board of trustees approved the following grant awards:
- Alexandria American Legion Post 41: $1000 for grave markers
- City of Emery: $1000 for community center tables and chairs
- City of Kimball: $1000 for ballpark improvements
- Crow Creek Ambulance Service: $1300 for AED cabinets
- Dunham Historical Society: $1000 for facility improvements
- Ethan Rural Fire Protection District: $2000 for equipment
- Howard School District: $1000 for preschool supplies
- Letcher Community Development Foundation: $1000 for lake improvements
- Love Feast of Mitchell: $1000 for nutrition assistance
- Tokata Youth Center: $2000 for an outdoor activity space
- Town and Country Fire Department: $1000 for training supplies
- White Lake Cemetery Association: $500 for cemetery improvements
A volunteer board of trustees made up of cooperative members from each county awards grants twice annually. Members of the board of trustees are Julie Dykstra of Stickney, Clarissa Glaus of Chamberlain, Yvette Isburg of Fort Thompson, David Jorgenson of Mitchell, LeAnn Moe of Alexandria, Amber Kolousek of Wessington Springs, Tami Moore of Howard, Dawna VanOverschelde of Letcher and cooperative director Merl Bechen of Mitchell.
“Operation Round-Up is a program run by member volunteers that directly benefits their communities,” said Tara Miller, manager of communications at Central Electric. “Reaching $200,000 in local impact since 2015 would not be possible without the support of participating members.”
Grant applications are accepted every six months. The next deadline is November 1, 2024. For more information, please call 1-800-477-2892, contact your local trustee or visit www.centralec.coop and click on member programs.