School is in full swing, but the bright ideas don’t have to stop! With budgets still slim, teachers need help filling their classrooms with materials to meet students’ needs.

South River EMC can lighten that load if teachers apply for a grant through the Bright Ideas program. Through Bright Ideas, the Cooperative offers grants up to $2,000 for public school teachers with innovative, creative, classroom-based projects and materials. This year, South River EMC is expected to award around $50,000 to local schools.

Grants are still being accepted, but only until September 21. Don’t sit and wonder how you’ll get that new model or kit, write a grant for it!

Additional information, as well as grant writing tips and sample applications are available for viewing on the Bright Ideas Web site. So teachers, visit www.ncbrightideas.com, complete an application and share your idea.

Thus far, the Bright Ideas Grant program has funded over $7.9 million in grants and has touched the lives of over 1.4 million North Carolina students.

South River EMC is a locally-owned and operated electric cooperative, which provides electric service to 42,000 homes, farms and businesses in parts of Harnett, Cumberland, Sampson, Johnston and Bladen counties.