MEC Awards $30,000 in Grant Funds to South Michigan Teachers, Administrators, and School Officials - MEC - Midwest Energy & Communications

CASSOPOLIS, Mich. — Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC) surprised 30 teachers in January with grant awards from the 2024 Strengthening Schools program. Grants are funded via partnership dollars through Wolverine Power Cooperative, MEC’s power supplier. 

MEC received 110 qualifying grant applications requesting more than $208,734 for the 2024 grant cycle. A committee consisting of three co-op electric customers evaluated and scored all applications and determined final awards without knowledge of the school, district, or community. Each winning project received up to $2,500 in grant funds, with a maximum of $5,000 per school district, and a total of $30,000 awarded.

The following grants were awarded: 

• Bloomingdale Middle & High School: Handheld CNC router
• Brandywine Middle/Senior High School: New books for classroom
• Cassopolis Alternative/Adult Education: Adjustable standing desk converters and Bluetooth earbuds
• Cassopolis Middle School: Staff crisis prevention training/re-certification
• Colon Elementary School: Classroom sensory station
• Edwardsburg Middle School: 3D printer for computer coding classes
• Edwardsburg Middle School: eGlass technology tool
• Edwardsburg Primary: Classroom bookshelves and fluorescent light covers
• Gobles High School: New graphing calculators
• Lenawee Intermediate School District: Books for classroom libraries and presentation clickers
• Madison Middle School: Supplies to start an Italian Ice business for students
• Mattawan Early Elementary: Math & Movement mats
• Mattawan Early Elementary: Sensory light table
• Mattawan High School: Creation of an escape room
• Mendon High School: Copies of “The Little Liar” for 9th grade English & History classes
• Michener Elementary School: Yoto Players with cards for audiobooks
• Onsted Middle School: Cricut machine and supplies for Fab Lab course
• Onsted Middle School and High School: Delta Math Response to Intervention program
• Paw Paw High School: Laser engraver and tumbler
• Paw Paw High School: Pay-It-Forward class supplies and expenses
• Paw Paw Later Elementary: Supplies for school therapy dog program
• Paw Paw Middle School: Hardback novels and leveled reading texts for middle schoolers
• Redwood Elementary School: Floor rug for music classroom
• Springbrook Middle School: Equipment for Piano Exploration Camp
• Tecumseh High School: New equipment for school weight room
• Van Buren Intermediate School District: Sensory equipment
• Van Buren Intermediate School District (Early Childhood): Licensing for Tobii Dynavox augmentative and alternative communication equipment
• Vicksburg Middle School: iPad for middle school band
• Watervliet High School: Camera lens for yearbook class
• Watervliet High School: Novels for high school special education students

MEC launched the Strengthening Schools grant program in 2013 to help public school teachers, administrators, and officials reach students in new and exciting ways. Since 2013, the co-op has awarded more than $300,000 in grants. 

Information and applications for the 2025-26 funding cycle will be available at https://www.teammidwest.com/about-us/community/strengthening-schools-grants/ beginning in April. 

Grant Reviewers Needed

A committee of MEC electric customers decides which Strengthening Schools proposals get funded. We are currently seeking volunteers for the upcoming award cycle.

Interested electric customers who can dedicate time to reviewing, discussing, and awarding grants, including meeting in person for one full weekday in the fall, can email pr@teammidwest.com for consideration.

The review committee does not know the school, educator, or district when determining recipients.

About Midwest Energy & Communications

Midwest Energy & Communications is a customer-owned electric cooperative founded in 1937. It provides electricity, propane, and fiber internet solutions to rural customers across southern and west-central Michigan, northern Indiana, and northeast Ohio. The company is expanding internet services in southern Michigan to bring fiber-to-the-premises to an additional 50,000 customers by the end of 2026. To learn more, visit teammidwest.com.