ENERGYUNITED CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF FUNDING TEACHERS’ ‘BRIGHT IDEAS’

Educators are eligible to receive up to $2,000 for their innovative classroom projects  

STATESVILLE, N.C. – Teachers now have the chance to bring their dream lesson plans to life with the help of Bright Ideas education grants from EnergyUnited. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the local electric cooperative providing grants to enhance educational experiences through creative and engaging projects. EnergyUnited is currently accepting Bright Ideas applications and teachers can apply online at www.ncbrightideas.com.  

“This year, EnergyUnited is celebrating the transformational impact of the Bright Ideas education grant program for children across our communities during its remarkable 30-year history,” said Marilyn Lineberger, corporate communications manager for EnergyUnited. “We encourage all K-12 teachers to apply and share their innovative ideas to shape our shared vision of a brighter future.” 

EnergyUnited expects to award more than $45,000 in Bright Ideas grants to many local teachers during the 2024-2025 school year, with individual grants ranging from $200 up to $2,000. Last year over 30 teachers received Bright Ideas Grants from EnergyUnited. Funding is available for K-12 classroom projects in all curriculum areas including art, history, math, reading, science, technology and more. Educators can apply as individuals or as a team and must include a budget, project goals, implementation plan and description of how the project will engage students and enhance their success.  

Over 30 years, EnergyUnited has awarded more than $1 million in grants through NC Bright Ideas. The final deadline to apply is September 15. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit energyunited.com/bright-ideas to find details on submission requirements. For more information about the program and grant-writing tips, please visit www.ncbrightideas.com. 

The Bright Ideas education grant program is a shared initiative of all 26 electric co-ops in North Carolina. Collectively, EnergyUnited and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have awarded nearly $16 million in grants, supporting more than 14,700 projects benefiting close to four million students statewide.  

 About EnergyUnited  EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina with 140,137 member connections. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in portions of 19 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.com to learn more about the cooperative’s energy services and community programs. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the NC Bright Ideas education grant program. Since the program’s inception, EnergyUnited has awarded more than $1 million in grants to support innovative classroom projects.