Central Electric Cooperative is awarding $16,600 in Operation Round-Up grants to support area projects.

Through Operation Round-Up, participating members voluntarily round their monthly electric bill up to the next whole dollar, and the average member contribution of 50 cents per month rolls into a charitable fund to support local causes.

“Our member-owners make this program possible. Each county in our service territory has a representative at the table to help direct where the funds go,” said Tara Miller, Central Electric’s manager of communications and Operation Round-Up program coordinator.

The Operation Round-Up board of trustees includes Julie Dykstra of Stickney, Jill Ekstrum of Kimball, Ellen Speck of Gann Valley, David Jorgenson of Mitchell, LeAnn Moe of Alexandria, Scott Kolousek of Wessington Springs, Connie Hattervig of Carthage, Carla Amick of Letcher and Jim Headley of White Lake. The cooperative’s eight-county service area includes Aurora, Brule, Buffalo, Davison, Hanson, Jerauld, Miner and Sanborn Counties.

On May 18, the board of trustees met and approved the following grant awards:

• $1,000 – Aurora County Historical Society for museum shelter for agricultural equipment
• $1,500 – Buffalo County Rural Fire District for emergency lighting and flashlights
• $2,500 – Canova CARE Center for roof repairs
• $2,500 – Carthage Improvement Association for auditorium air conditioning
• $1,250 – City of Emery for new trash receptacles
• $2,650 – Horizon Health Foundation for dental assistance for children ages 0-5
• $1,500 – James Valley Drug and DUI Court for assistance to prevent homelessness
• $1,000 – Kimball Economic Development Corporation for a youth football storage building
• $1,200 – Kimball Economic Development Corporation for a baseball/softball scoreboard
• $1,000 – Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village for summer cultural programs
• $500 – White Lake City Library for the summer reading program

Since 2015, Central Electric Cooperative members have invested more than $130,000 back into their local communities through participation in Operation Round-Up with individual member donations averaging 50 cents per month. The funds are awarded to worthy organizations that make a direct impact in the communities of Central Electric members. Grant application deadlines are May 1 and November 1.

For more information, please call Central Electric at 1-800-477-2892 or talk to your local Operation Round-Up trustee.