STATESVILLE — Time is running out for educators to apply for grants of up to $2,000 from EnergyUnited’s Bright Ideas education grant program. Friday is the last day to submit an application for grant funding for creative, hands-on classroom projects.

Interested educators can find the application, grant-writing tips and more information on the Bright Ideas website at www.ncbrightideas.com.

“The Bright Ideas education grant program has provided more than $10 million for 9,800 projects benefitting more than 2 million students in our state over the past 22 years,” said Maureen Moore, communications manager at EnergyUnited. “Education is key in building and maintaining strong communities. At EnergyUnited, we are proud to support the communities we serve by supporting the educators who shape our future leaders.”

EnergyUnited and electric cooperatives statewide expect to award nearly $600,000 to educators for Bright Ideas projects during the 2016-17 school year. Last year, EnergyUnited awarded 47 teachers from 13 of the 19 counties it serves with more than $40,000 in Bright Ideas education grants that helped fund innovative classroom learning projects.

Bright Ideas grants are available to K-12 teachers for innovative projects in any subject. Applications require an outline of the proposed project, a detailed budget and a description of the benefit to students. Applicants are encouraged to highlight the innovative, creative elements of the project and to proofread carefully.

Classroom teachers at qualifying schools in EnergyUnited’s 19 counties can apply for grants individually or as a team. Those counties are: Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes and Yadkin.