GIRARD, Kan. — Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative is now accepting applications for its 2025 Concern for Community grant program, which offers grants of up to $5,000 for capital improvement projects that benefit communities within Heartland’s service area.
Applications will be accepted through July 31, and grant recipients will be selected by the Heartland Board of Directors in August. Funds will be distributed in September.
The Concern for Community grant program reflects Heartland’s commitment to strengthening the region through investment in long-term community development. Eligible projects must fall into one of the following categories:
- County fairs: Infrastructure and other projects at county fairgrounds that are outside of the scope of what is typically funded through sponsorships
- Schools: Capital campaigns for school facilities that benefit Heartland members and families
- Nonprofit organizations: Capital campaigns focused on education, the environment, culture and the arts, or civic and community development
- Other community improvements: Projects that serve Heartland-area communities and are approved by the board
Preference will be given to collaborative efforts that receive funding or support from multiple sources.
Funding for the program comes from unclaimed capital credit checks—money that was intended to be returned to members. Rather than letting these funds go unused, Heartland’s Board of Directors has chosen to invest them back into the communities the cooperative serves.
“These are dollars that belong to the people in our service area, and we believe the best way to honor that is by using them to support projects that create lasting value,” said Heartland CEO Mark Scheibe. “This program is a powerful example of the cooperative principle of ‘Concern for Community’ in action.”
To learn more or apply, visit heartland-rec.com.
About Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. powers rural lifestyles throughout more than 11,000 locations in eastern Kansas. Heartland’s service area includes members in 12 counties, including Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Cherokee, Coffey, Crawford, Labette, Linn, Miami, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.
Heartland REC traces its roots back to three original rural electric cooperatives: Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company, Sugar Valley Electric Cooperative Association, and Sekan Electric Cooperative Association. Cooperative Electric Power & Light Company joined with Sugar Valley in 1975 to form United Electric Cooperative; United Electric Cooperative joined with Sekan Electric Cooperative Association in 1996 to form Heartland.