BLOOMINGTON, IL — Tuesday, May 26, 2020 — Corn Belt Energy’s Board of Directors approved a grant of $15,000 for the Feeding BN and Beyond program and a grant of $5,000 for the Starved Rock Community Foundation’s COVID-19 Recovery Fund as a part of the Sharing Success program.
The Sharing Success program, a matching grant opportunity in partnership with CoBank, is one of Corn Belt Energy’s most unique community programs and is designed to enhance the vital role that electric cooperatives play in individual communities across the country.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for local communities. Because of this, CoBank has increased the Sharing Success matching and increased the amount in which partnering electric cooperatives may contribute. As the name implies, the Sharing Success program is an opportunity for Corn Belt Energy to share its own financial stability with deserving organizations throughout our communities,” stated Don Taylor, Corn Belt Energy President & CEO.
This year, the increased amount allowed Corn Belt Energy and CoBank to donate a total of $20,000 to provide COVID-19 relief to local communities served by Corn Belt Energy.
The Corn Belt Energy Sharing Success grant for the Feeding B-N and Beyond program, which is managed by the United Way of McLean County, will support school food program supplementation, grass roots efforts such as “Feed Blo-No Kids”, and create support for those disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, Feeding B-N and Beyond has supported five school districts by purchasing over 1,500 pounds of fresh produce, served over 62,365 meals, and provided over 1,150 food boxes and 800 masks to local volunteers.
Corn Belt Energy’s Sharing Success grant for the Starved Rock Community Foundation will go to support the Starved Rock Country COVID-19 Recovery Fund to help support those directly impacted by COVID-19.
“We are fortunate to have the generous support of CoBank and we are thankful for the contributions enabling us to help make our communities a safer, better place to live, and help those in need during a time of crisis,” stated Taylor.
About Corn Belt Energy
Started in 1938 to bring electricity to rural Central Illinois, Corn Belt Energy Corporation now distributes electricity to over 36,000 households and businesses throughout 18 counties. One of the largest cooperatives in Illinois, Corn Belt Energy employs 85 people, maintains over 5,000 miles of line, and distributes electricity from the Wabash Valley Power Alliance, a generation and transmission cooperative based in Indiana. As a not-for-profit energy cooperative, Corn Belt Energy is owned by the members it serves and is committed to providing reliable, affordable energy. Governed by 13 directors who are themselves residential members, Corn Belt also supports energy efficiency, education, and safety initiatives. Learn more at www.cornbeltenergy.com.