STATESVILLE – EnergyUnited and the other 25 units in the network of North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have pledged nearly $600,000 to the state’s teachers in Bright Ideas education grants for the 2017-18 school year.

Educators can apply for as much as $2,000 for creative, hands-on classroom projects that would not otherwise be possible.

“For more than 20 years, Bright Ideas grants have helped teachers bring innovative ideas to life and get students excited about learning,” said Maureen Moore, communications manager at EnergyUnited. “We are committed to the communities we serve, and we believe there is no better investment than in the education of our youth.”

EnergyUnited expects to award over $40,000 in Bright Ideas grants this year to teachers in the counties it serves. The grants are available to kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers from public, public charter, private and Christian schools in any subject.

Teachers can apply individually or as a team and must apply online. Applications will be accepted through Sept. 15, but Moore noted it could pay to apply early. Teachers who submit their applications by the early-bird deadline of Saturday will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card.

To apply, teachers must include a budget; explain the implementation, goals, creative elements and evaluation of the project; and have approval from the school principal. The selection committee will be on the lookout for projects that feature innovation and creativity.

Teachers can learn more and apply online at www.energyunited.com/bright-ideas-program.

In the past two decades, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have contributed more than $10.9 million to teachers for 9,800 projects benefiting more than 2 million students.

“Teachers have amazing, creative ideas to help students succeed, and we never want a lack of resources to limit the implementation of those ideas,” Moore said. “The enthusiasm and dedication of educators never ceases to amaze us, and we are proud to support their efforts.”

EnergyUnited Electric Membership Corp. is the largest electric cooperative in North Carolina serving nearly 124,000 metering points. Headquartered in Statesville, EnergyUnited provides electric service in parts of 19 counties in west-central North Carolina, including Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin.

EnergyUnited Propane serves more than 25,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 74 counties across North Carolina and South Carolina.