FEC Roundup for Safety board awards grants

The Flathead Electric Co-op Roundup for Safety Board awarded $16,500 in community safety grants to nonprofit organizations at its Oct. 13 meeting, including a $4,800 grant requested by Greater Valley Health Center’s school-based health program for an EKG machine.

Jill Pate presented on behalf of the program, which provides medical and behavioral health care to students, staff, and families at three school clinic sites — East Evergreen Elementary School, Linderman Education Center and Glacier High School. She discussed the program’s desire to enhance school safety by having the ability to perform school-based EKGs when necessary, such as when students or staff are experiencing concerning cardiac symptoms or display signs of high cardiac risk.

Other projects funded during the October meeting included:

Calvary Chapel Flathead Valley — $1,300 for AED with child paddles

Montana Alpine Race School — $9,000 for safety netting

DREAM Adaptive Recreation — $1,400 for safety checks for volunteers

Roundup for Safety is a voluntary program for Flathead Electric Cooperative members who allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar, with the extra money going into a fund for community safety projects proposed by nonprofit organizations and considered by an independent board.

Since 1997, members of Flathead Electric Cooperative have rounded up their bills to a total of over $4.5 million in community safety project funding. For more information visit www.flatheadelectric.com/roundup or call Courtney Stone at 406-751-1820. Grant applications are accepted on Flathead Electric Co-op's website and are due by the end of each month for consideration at the following month’s meeting.