On December 13, Flathead Electric Cooperative’s Roundup for Safety program awarded $46,660 in grants to support community safety projects proposed by 12 local nonprofit organizations. The projects include a rare $12,000 award for the South Kalispell Volunteer Fire Department (VFD). The group will replace its damaged extraction equipment, more commonly called the jaws of life.

Bill Leininger, Roundup for Safety Board President, shared, “The maximum amount a local non-profit can request from Roundup is $12,000. Very few organizations request this much, as Roundup typically provides seed money for community safety projects. However, the Board recognizes the critical nature of volunteer first responder groups to the overall safety of our communities and was happy to be able to support this VFD’s need for extraction equipment.”

Ron LaTray presented on behalf of the South Kalispell VFD. He informed the Board of the mutual aid agreements in place between the South Kalispell Fire District and the Kalispell, Somers, Lakeside, Smith Valley, West Valley, and Evergreen Fire Districts. “Over 20,000 Flathead Valley and Flathead Electric Co-op members may be served with this extraction equipment,” La Tray stated.

The Board expressed gratitude to the Co-op members who voluntarily round up their electric bills each month to fund Roundup’s community safety grants.

In 2024, the Roundup for Safety Board accepted 77 projects and awarded $336,209 in grant funding. Since 1997, Roundup for Safety has supported 1,493 projects via $5,265,134 in donations from Flathead Electric Co-op members.

December grantees also include:

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 $5 million in funding since 1997.

 

RoundUp for Safety Flathead Electric Cooperative

Roundup for Safety is a voluntary program for Co-op members who round up their electric bills to the next dollar. This money is managed by an independent board and goes into a fund for community safety projects. If your nonprofit is interested in applying for community safety funds, visit our Roundup for Safety page or call the Roundup for Safety Board Liaison:

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