North Carolina’s 26 electric cooperatives are funding more than 600 innovative classroom projects impacting more than 150,000 students across the state through the Bright Ideas Education Grant program.
In total, co-ops awarded nearly $715,000 in grants this year to help North Carolina educators bring their bright ideas to life and create unique, engaging classroom experiences that will benefit students for years to come.
Deanna Deaton and Shauna McNeill from Greenwood Elementary were awarded 2022 Bright Ideas grants from Central Electric.
“Because we are rooted in the communities we serve, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are proud to once again give back to the local educators that are building our next generation of leaders,” said Kristie Aldridge, vice president of strategic communications and marketing and North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “We applaud all of this year’s grant winners and applicants for their dedication and for going above and beyond to enhance the classroom experience and positively impact the lives of their students.”
Since 1994, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have awarded more than $15 million in grants for approximately 14,200 projects that have benefitted 3.5 million students. Bright Ideas education grants are North Carolina’s electric cooperatives’ flagship community support program, advancing classroom excellence and accelerating student learning for nearly 30 years. The Bright Ideas grant program is part of the electric cooperatives continued commitment to building a brighter future for the local communities they serve.
Lumbee River EMC awarded over $33,000 to 17 teachers in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson, and Scotland counties through the Bright Ideas grant program in 2022.
The 2023 Bright Ideas application opens on April 1, and educators in all 100 North Carolina counties are encouraged to start researching and preparing their Bright Ideas now. Grants are awarded to cover projects across all disciplines, ranging from art and reading to math and science. More information on the application requirements and eligibility, as well as grant-writing tips, can be found at www.ncbrightideas.com.
To learn more about how North Carolina’s electric cooperatives are powering a brighter future and investing in education, visit www.ncelectriccooperatives.com or contact your local electric co-op.