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Co-op helps
build local economies
2004 investment totals
$19.3 million
Flathead Electric invested more
than $19.3 million in the Flathead Valley and Libby during 2004, purchasing
everything from young stock growers’ animals at the local fair to service
trucks for Co-op crews.
The Co-op’s annual payroll of $7.9 million and property taxes totaling $2.5
million make a large impact in our communities.
A survey completed for the Montana Electric Cooperatives’ Association showed
that the 26 member Co-ops infuse $92.3 million annually into Montana’s
economy.
Flathead Electric’s local investment during 2004 included thousands of
dollars in scholarships funded by unclaimed capital credits. The Co-op also
purchased fat stock animals at the Northwest Montana Fair and awarded prizes
to young inventors who entered the annual Youth Electric Fair.
Nearly every area of the local economy saw some benefit from Flathead
Electric’s purchases. Rental fees for equipment the Co-op needs only
occasionally, payments to employment services for short-term help,
landscaping firms, auto parts and hardware stores are just a few of a long
list of vendors Flathead Electric patronizes.
Businesses also benefit from the Commercial Lighting Rebate Program, which
returned more than $140,000 to commercial members who invested in
energy-efficient lighting.
Some of the Co-op’s contributions to local communities don’t show up in a
balance sheet. Employees volunteer hundreds of hours to many community
projects, participating in a broad range of activities. The MECA survey
estimated that Co-op employees volunteer an average of 58,000 hours to their
communities each year.
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2004
December
Roundup For Safety
Report
Applications Received
& Approved:
Evergreen PTO
Playground Equipment
$10,000.00
Elrod Elementary
School
Radios
$799.50
Discovery Development Center
Lighting
$5,000.00
Martin City Volunteer
Fire Department
Turnout gear $5,000.00
Brendan House
Wheelchair tie downs $1,700.00
Hungry Horse VFD
Radios $1,700.00
1 Application
Pending
1 Application
Denied
Roundup For Safety is a voluntary program for FEC members.
Participating members allow their electric bill to be rounded up to the
next dollar, with the extra money going into a fund for community safety
projects.
Applications from non-profit groups are considered each month by a
board of directors representing each Co-op district.
For information and application forms, call 751-4483 in Kalispell and
293-7122 in Libby.
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