Heartland accepting applications for 2025 Concern for Community Grants

Press release

GIRARD — 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.