School and Community Groups Receive $10,000 Through Operation Round Up Grants

From Local Sources 

JASPER -- Trustees for the Dubois REC Operation Round Up fund met this month to award grants to seven local organizations and school groups. This brings the total amount of grants awarded in the community to $368,478.68 since 2011. 
Operation Round Up is just what the name implies. Dubois REC members simply allow the co-op to “round up” their electric bill to the next highest dollar. That spare change goes into a fund that is overseen by a board of trustees, who are also Dubois REC members.

 Local groups and organizations can then apply for grants from this fund. Those eligible to apply for the funds include groups or organizations located within the Dubois REC service territory, which covers the counties of Dubois, Crawford, Perry, Pike, Orange and Martin. 

Grants are available for local volunteer fire departments, youth programs, 4-H, senior citizen programs and other community service projects. The fund will NOT be used to pay any electric or utility bills or be used in any way to support or oppose any political candidate or campaign.

 Listed below are the recipients of the Operation Round Up grants that were awarded in the most recent grant cycle. 

The Birdseye Conservation Club received a $1,000 grant to help upgrade their building to make it handi-cap accessible. 

The Birdseye Park Department received a $2,000 grant to help fund expansion of the existing shelter house. 

Crawford County High School Football team received a $1,000 grant to help purchase equipment for their growing program. 

Dubois Middle School received a $500 grant to help create a Maker-Space in the school library. (A Maker-Space is where students gather to create, invent, tinker and explore using a variety of tools and materials.) 

Jasper Middle School also received a $500 grant to expand their Maker-Space program into a Maker-Space Club for students who want more time for extended activities. 

Lincoln Hills United Methodist Church Emergency Shelter received a grant for $3,000 to install an electrical transfer switch for their emergency generator. 

Southern Indiana Center for Independent Living received a $2,000 grant to help fund purchases for people with special needs, that do not qualify for other programs.   This may include assistive technology, or home modifications to allow a person with a disability to stay in their own home.


Dubois REC will accept applications for the next grant cycle of Operation Round Up® grants May 1-31. Grant applications must be submitted before 4 p.m. on May 31. Representatives from local civic groups, non-profits or community organizations who would like to apply for an Operation Round Up grant can download the application forms from www.duboisrec.com . 

Applications are also available at the Dubois REC office, by calling 812.482.5454 or sending an email to Kyla Jones at [email protected]