Educators can apply for grants of up to $2,000 to fund innovative projects
Special to Iredell Free News
EnergyUnited is accepting applications for the cooperative’s 2021 Bright Ideas education grant program. The grants, offered annually to teachers to bring creative classroom learning projects to life, support innovative projects that energize classroom learning and enhance student success.
Educators can learn more and apply online at www.ncbrightideas.com.
“As students and teachers face the challenges of the past year, we’re pleased to continue our long history of supporting them with grants that fulfill needs in local classrooms,” said Maureen Moore, communications manager for EnergyUnited. “As a community-focused organization, we are committed to building a brighter future for our students and our region, and we encourage all K-12 educators with ‘bright ideas’ to submit an application.”
EnergyUnited expects to award $40,000 in Bright Ideas grants this year to K-12 teachers across its 19-county service area. Grants of up to $2,000 are available in all subject areas, and teachers can apply individually or as a team.
Applications will be accepted through September 15. Teachers who submit their application by the early bird deadline of August 15 will be entered in a drawing to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards.
To apply, teachers must include a budget; explain the implementation, goals, creative elements and evaluation of the project; and have approval from their school’s principal. Applications will be judged through a competitive evaluation process, with judges looking for projects that feature innovative and creative approaches to learning. Grant-writing tips can be found at www.ncbrightideas.com.
For more than 25 years, EnergyUnited has joined North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives in offering Bright Ideas grants to teachers. Since the program began in 1994, educators statewide have received more than $13.6 million in Bright Ideas grant funding, and more than 2.7 million North Carolina students have participated in close to 13,000 Bright Ideas-funded projects.
About EnergyUnited
EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving more than 130,000 metering points. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of nineteen counties in west central North Carolina which include Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin. Visit EnergyUnited online at www.energyunited.com to learn more.