FEC awards record funding to support community safety projects
Discovery Developmental Center in Kalispell. (Courtesy photo)
The Roundup for Safety Board awarded over $44,000 – a record amount of funding – to area nonprofits seeking support for community safety projects on Nov. 9.
All Roundup for Safety funding comes from participating Flathead Electric Cooperatives members who allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The program costs each member about $6 per year and has provided over $4.8 million in funding since 1997.
The Discovery Developmental Center sought to install a video intercom buzz-in system and responsive door locks around the perimeter of its Kalispell facility. Discovery has provided nonprofit childcare to thousands of Flathead families since 1992. Discovery has been in its current location off Meridian since 2005.
Director Collette Box and Board Member Lori Roberts presented and shared several instances of safety issues in the Discovery parking lot.
Box told the board, “Discovery is ready to address increasing safety concerns by installing keypass control to three typically unlocked doors, giving us control of who can enter the building. Parents and teachers will have keycards.”
The Roundup for Safety Board noted with approval Discovery’s existing $3,000 in seed money for the project and awarded $8,000 towards the door locks and intercom system.
November grantees also include:
-Youth With A Mission – AED – $1,500
-Bigfork Youth Baseball – backstop, fencing – $10,000
-DREAM Adaptive Recreation – visually impaired bibs, gates – $2,500
-Flathead County Sheriff’s Posse – tasers – $9,989
-Risen Christ Catholic Church – light poles – $3,000
-Nate Chute Foundation – mental health safety awareness – $6,000
-Flathead Rivers Alliance – river safety equipment – $3,883
To learn more, please visit www.flatheadelectric.com/our-community/roundup-for-safety/