Lenawee County, MI – Midwest Energy & Communications surprised 30 teachers in January with grant awards from the 2024 Strengthening Schools program, including several in Lenawee County. 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.
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