The La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation Board approved a total of $7,950 in grant funding to local non-profit organizations at its meeting on February 22, 2021. Durango Trails, Ruby Sisson Memorial Library Foundation, and Imaginary Friends Productions (DBA Merely Players) will receive funding as part of this grant cycle.

These monthly grants are made possible, in part, by the generosity of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) members who choose to round up their electric bill each month to the next highest dollar. $60,000 in unclaimed LPEA capital credits are also provided annually to the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation Board, on behalf of the LPEA Board of Directors, to support these monthly grants.

LPEA grants are available to all registered 501-C3 non-profit organizations in La Plata and Archuleta counties. Grants usually range from $500 to $5,000, and the application forms are available at lpea.coop/grant-programs.

LPEA members wishing to round up their bill can sign up on SmartHub or at lpea.coop/round-foundation. The average LPEA member contribution is just $6.00 annually. Members can also elect to automatically donate more each month if they would like to contribute additional money to local non-profits.

Established in 1997, the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation is a non-profit, community support fund for organizations and individuals in LPEA’s service territory. A local, eleven-member, volunteer board reviews applications and allocates funds. 100% of the tax-deductible donations stay in the communities LPEA serves.