Submit Your 2013 Bright Ideas Grant Application Now!

Edgecombe-Martin County EMC and North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have pledged nearly $600,000 to the state’s teachers in Bright Ideas education grant funding for the 2013-14 school year and are accepting grant applications beginning April 1. Grants of up to $1,500 will be awarded directly to educators for creative, hands-on classroom projects that would not otherwise be funded. Teachers can learn more and apply online at www.ncbrightideas.com.

Edgecombe-Martin County EMC expects to award $7,000 in Bright Ideas grants this year to teachers in Edgecombe, Martin and Pitt counties. The grants are available to certified K-12 teachers for innovative projects in any subject. Teachers can apply individually or as a team.

Applications will be accepted April 1 through Sept. 20, but it could pay to apply early. Teachers who submit their applications by the early bird deadline of Friday, Aug. 16 will be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card.

To apply, teachers must include a budget, explain the creative elements, implementation, goals and evaluation of the project, and have approval from the school principal. Applications will be judged in a competitive evaluation process, and judges will be on the lookout for projects that feature innovation and creativity. The application, grant-writing tips and examples of past winning proposals can be found at www.ncbrightideas.com.

North Carolina’s electric cooperatives created the Bright Ideas grant program in 1994 to improve education by engaging students in meaningful learning projects that encourage creative approaches. Since then, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have contributed more than $8.5 million to teachers for 8,300 projects benefiting more than 1.5 million students.

Order Your Filters Today!

Most homeowners know that changing your furnace or air conditioner filter regularly saves wear and tear on your equipment. But did you also know it can reduce your heating and cooling costs up to 15%.

That's why Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is excited to announce a new service called FilterChange.coop. FilterChange.coop is an easy way to order filters online and get them delivered free to your door. In addition to saving energy, you can save up to 50% on the purchase price of your filters. You can even set up an automatic e-mail reminder so you will always know when it is time to change your filters.

Click on the image below to get started today!