ENERGYUNITED NOW ACCEPTING BRIGHT IDEAS APPLICATIONS

STATESVILLE, N.C. – EnergyUnited is once again partnering with local educators to bring learning to life through the Bright Ideas education grant program. Educators can now submit an application for Bright Ideas grants of up to $2,000 for innovative, hands-on classroom projects. Interested teachers can learn more and apply online at www.ncbrightideas.com.

“For the past 25 years, EnergyUnited has advanced classroom innovation efforts through the Bright Ideas education grant program,” said Maureen Moore, Communications Manager at EnergyUnited. “We believe that by providing necessary resources to support our teachers, and the implementation of their ‘bright ideas,’ our local schools will be even better equipped in their efforts to set future generations on the right path.”

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Bright Ideas Education Grant program. EnergyUnited expects to award over $40,000 in Bright Ideas grants this year to teachers in our 19-county service area. The grants are available to K-12 teachers for projects in any subject, and educators can apply individually or as a team.

Applications will be accepted April 1 through Sept. 23, 2019. Teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of Aug. 15 will be entered 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 inventive and creative approaches to learning. Grant-writing tips can be found at www.ncbrightideas.com.

Bright Ideas grants are available through each of North Carolina’s 26 independent electric cooperatives, including EnergyUnited. In 2018, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives collectively set a record by awarding more than $675,000 in Bright Ideas funding – the most awarded in a single year in the history of the program. Since the program began in 1994, educators statewide have received more than $12.2 million in Bright Ideas grant funding, and more than 2.3 million North Carolina students have participated in 11,699 Bright Ideas-funded projects.

About EnergyUnited

EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving nearly 130,000 metering points. 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. EnergyUnited Propane provides products and services to more than 24,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 74 counties across North and South Carolina. Visit EnergyUnited online at www.energyunited.com to learn more about our electric and propane businesses.