Teachers Can Apply Now For Co-op’s
2011-12 Bright Ideas Education Grants

French Broad Electric Membership Corporation is one of 26 North Carolina electric cooperatives which will fund the Bright Ideas Education Grant Program for the 2011-2012 school year. Teachers in public schools located in and near the cooperative's service territory can learn about the program and apply online at www.ncbrightideas.com. Faxed or handwritten applications will not be considered. Grants up to $1,500 are available.

The deadline is September 23, 2011. All North Carolina certified K-12 educators are eligible for a Bright Ideas grant. Teachers may apply for only one grant each school year; however, teachers may apply each and every year.

Bright Ideas grants finance innovative and creative classroom projects that would otherwise go unfunded. North Carolina's electric cooperatives have financed a variety of hands-on projects, including activities in music, art, history, language, reading, science, careerplanning and information technology. Simplicity is the hallmark of the application process. The primary elements are narratives explaining the project and how it will benefit students. A sample application is on the website as well as contact information for teachers who have questions or require more information. Since it began in 1994, the state's Bright Ideas program has awarded grant money to North Carolina's teachers to sponsor over 5,000 projects, benefiting more than 800,000 students.

Bright Ideas is part of the electric cooperatives' ongoing commitment to North Carolina communities. Grant winners will be notified during the month of November.