COLMAN Sioux Valley Energy and its members are springing into 2025 by making an impact in their local communities. During the most recent quarterly meeting of the Sioux Valley Energy Customers Trust board of directors, $25,800 in grants were awarded by the cooperatives Operation Round Up program. An additional $5,000 was reserved for scholarships.
In Brookings County, The Salvation Army of Brookings County received $1,000 for assistance including rent, utilities, medical bills, gas/bus tokens for medical appointments and groceries. The National Inventors Hall of Fame received $1,375 to provide funding for full-camp registration to five low-income children attending the camp in Brandon or Brookings. The Volga Christian School received $950 in funding for a new automatic electric defibrillator and CPR, first aid, and AED training.
Other recipients included:
Colman Colman Fire and Rescue Department $750 in funding toward cordless tool batteries for equipment that assists in car accidents and fires
Colton Colton Friends of Baseball $750 in funding for field improvements, focusing on turf replacement, at the Colton baseball field
Crooks Crooks Community Daycare Center $1,000 toward the purchase of four iPads and a refrigerator for the new center
Dell Rapids Dell Rapids Baseball Association $750 in funding for new backstop, dugouts (benches), backstop concrete surround on the volunteer field
Garretson Blue Dragon Academy $750 in funding toward Mr. Ty, the childcare whisper, training
Harrisburg Educators Rising SD $1,000 in funding to create kits, procure materials and deliver professional development to schools
Hartford Hartford Area Sports and Rec $750 in funding to purchase two portable pitching mounds, bat racks, and materials to build helmet/ball glove cubbies
West Central Education Foundation $750 in funding to grant teacher requests
West Central Music Association $750 in funding for new headset microphones
Hills, Minnesota HBC Letter Club $750 in funding to provide academic letters, sports letters, pins, and an interactive television to display Hall of Fame
Luverne, Minnesota Rock County Community Library $750 in funding to purchase a story trail Luverne Elementary Grade 4 Science $984.90 in funding to purchase a 3D printer to provide hands-on opportunities for scientific concepts
Madison Lake County Food Pantry, Inc. $1,000 in funding for two weeks worth of food costs to fill backpacks for 160 preschool-5th grade students in Lake County schools
The Friends of the Madison Public Library $500 in funding to update the youth area and offer a safe space for teens
The Gathering Meal $1,000 in funding to provide a free meal for those in need
Mitchell Abbott House $1,000 in funding for transportation costs for children
Pipestone, Minnesota ACE of SW MN $250 in funding toward purchase of food and paper products for volunteer appreciation event and to purchase weights used in exercise classes
ELA Pipestone $1,000 in funding for field trip opportunities for children who do not normally participate due to lack of funds/vehicles
Jasper Jolly Juniors 4-H Club $750 to build two scoreboards at the Jasper, Minnesota, softball fields
Pipestone Area Youth Fastpitch $750 funding for new uniforms
Calumet Players $750 in funding for rehearsal space, seat rental, costumes, props, sets, music, and advertising
Sioux Falls Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire $500 in funding for supplies and training
Center of Hope $750 in funding to provide new locks and bicycle parts
Childrens Home Shelter for Family Safety $1,000 in funding for Worthy Me training
Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation $1,000 in funding for teacher grants
Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium $500 in funding to allow additional children and adults to experience the venue
The Foster Network $1,250 in funding to purchase new shoes for back-to-school event in August
Tea South Dakota Players Inc. $750 to support tournament registration and uniforms
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 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.
A list of recent grant recipients, as well as information on how local organizations can apply for funding, can be found here.
The next deadline to apply for funding is May 20, with grants being awarded in June.
Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone EnergyCooperative, 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.
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