Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative’s Concern for Community program provides grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects throughout the Heartland service area.
Applying for a Grant
- Applications are accepted during a defined application period each year
- The application period for 2023 is now closed. Awardees will be selected in August and checks will be distributed in September.
Eligibility
To qualify for a grant, a project must fit within one of the following categories:
County Fairs
- Projects related to county fairs in the Heartland service area, with a focus on infrastructure projects and other projects that are not supported by normal fair sponsorships
Schools
- Schools within the cooperative’s service area that have capital campaigns for facilities that would positively impact Heartland consumer-members
Non-Profit Organizations
- Non-profit organizations undergoing capital campaigns with facilities that focus on education, environment, culture and the arts, and civic and community development that would positively impact Heartland consumer-members
Other Projects
- Other projects that better the communities in or surrounding the cooperative’s service area, as authorized by the board
How Are Grants Funded?
- Funds for Heartland’s Concern for Community Grants come from the cooperative’s unclaimed capital credit retirement checks
- Because that money was intended to support the local community, Heartland’s Board of Directors has decided to use those funds for community grants
- Grant money does not come from cooperative revenues and the issuing of grants will not impact future rates or capital credit allocations
How Are Grants Awarded?
- Applications will be scored by Heartland staff members
- The top-scoring applications will be given to the Heartland Board of Directors for final selection and approval in August
- Funds will be distributed in September
- In keeping with Heartland’s goal of encouraging sustainable development, preference will be given to collaborative projects receiving support from other sources
If you have any questions, reach out to Doug Graham at (620) 724-5526 or email Doug.