More than 160,000 students throughout North Carolina are participating in engaging, innovative classroom projects this year, thanks to Bright Ideas grants. Funded by North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives, Bright Ideas grants worth more than $700,000 were awarded to teachers in 87 counties in 2021, supporting 614 impactful learning initiatives.
Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have issued more than $14.3 million in grants for 13,536 projects that have benefitted well over 2.8 million students.
The flagship community program of the state’s electric cooperatives, Bright Ideas grants advance excellence in education by providing funding to exceptional K-12 educators for projects that may not otherwise be funded. Grants are awarded in a variety of curriculum areas including math, science, technology, art, reading and history.
“Since cooperatives are based in the communities they serve, they understand the needs of teachers and students in their local school districts and are proud to offer these grants year after year to outstanding educators in our state,” said Communications and Community Relations Specialist Hailey Rodriguez. “This past year, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives received some truly remarkable grant applications, and we are very excited to share the impact of these grants throughout the year.”
The 2022 Bright Ideas application opens on April 1, and educators are encouraged to start researching and formulating their Bright Ideas now. More information on eligibility and application requirements, as well as grant-writing tips, can be found at www.ncbrightideas.com.