Sioux Valley Energy and its members are celebrating October as National Cooperative Month by making an impact in their local communities. During the most recent quarterly meeting of the Sioux Valley Energy Customers’ Trust Board of Directors, $35,000 in grants was awarded by the Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® program, including nearly $5,000 reserved for scholarships.
Recipients included:
Brandon, South Dakota Brandon Valley Optimist Club – $1,000 in funding to provide an additional gaga ball pit at the Brandon Elementary School
Brookings, South Dakota Brookings Area Camp Adventure – $1,000 in funding to provide camp supplies, food, field trips, t-shirts, and transportation during camp week
Brookings County 4-H – $1,500 in funding to purchase t-shirts for children to wear for Achievement Days
Crooks, South Dakota Crooks Veterans Park – $2,000 in funding toward the electrical portion of the project (featured in photo above)
Flandreau, South Dakota Flandreau Elementary PBIS – $1,000 in funding to purchase items for the SOAR store
Hills, Minnesota Rock Ranch – $5,000 in funding for the construction of a horse shelter
Madison, South Dakota Bethel Lutheran Home – $2,500 in funding to purchase a convection oven and warming table
Inter-Lakes Community Action Partnership, Inc. – $1,500 in funding for the support of ICAP’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program
Madison Volunteer Fire Department – $2,500 in funding to cover costs of changing the radio system over from UHF to VHF
Prairie Village Junius Schoolhouse – $1,000 in funding to purchase materials to make rugs with looms during Jamboree Days and demonstrate making rugs for school visits
Marshall, Minnesota SWWC Foundation – $1,000 in funding supporting the SWWC Student Enrichment Program
Pipestone, Minnesota Lights at the Lodge – $1,200 in funding to complete the new ice castle for the Lights at the Lodge event
Ramona, South Dakota ORR Trap Team – $1,000 in funding to offset costs for students & families to participate in the ORR Sporting Clay Trap Team
Sioux Falls, South Dakota American Heart Association – $1,500 in funding programs such as CPR training and initiatives
Call to Freedom – $3,000 in funding to support youth clients’ substance abuse treatment, medical & mental health treatment, case management, and occupational therapy
Girl Scouts Dakota Horizons – $1,000 in funding to cover expenses for the STEM event
Health Connect of South Dakota – $1,000 in funding for expenses for health & safety activities at the Health Connect Festival in September
Junior Achievement of South Dakota – $2,100 in funding for classroom materials for local schools
Nearly $2.3 million has been donated to area non-profits, schools, and communities since the year 2000 when Sioux Valley Energy started its Operation Round Up® (ORU) program. The program is simple – participating members “round up” their electric bill to the next high dollar and those “rounded up” funds are placed into a trust. Additionally, many Sioux Valley Energy employees donate from their paycheck each month. Each quarter the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees meets to review applications and consider grant requests. So far in 2024, more than $92,600 in Operation Round Up grants has been provided.
A list of recent grant recipients, as well as information on how local organizations can apply for funding, can be found at https://www.siouxvalleyenergy.com/operation-round-up
The next deadline to apply for funding is November 20 with grants being awarded in December.
Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, is a member-owned electric utility, providing reliable electric service at cost-based rates to nearly 30,000 homes, farms, businesses, and industries in a seven-county area of east-central South Dakota and western Minnesota.
