Apply for PEC nonprofit grants through Oct. 2
The Pedernales Electric Cooperative awarded more than $35,000 in community grants to eight nonprofits in 2022, including the Friends of the Bertram Library and Highland Lakes Canine Rescue. Courtesy photo
The Pedernales Electric Cooperative is accepting applications for community grants of up to $5,000 through 11:59 p.m. Oct. 2. Nonprofits in the PEC service area, which in the Highland Lakes includes most of Burnet and Blanco counties and parts of Llano County, can apply online.
PEC awards grants twice a year for projects related to technology, capital improvements, and energy efficiency. The money comes from the cooperative’s Power of Change program. Co-op members who opt into the program have their bills rounded up to the nearest dollar to contribute to the grants. The average member donation is about $6 a year.
“Our members are making a profound impact by supporting important initiatives to help a variety of local causes,” PEC Community Relations Manager Celeste Mikeska said in a media release. “Together with our members, we’re proud to power important projects that Texas Hill Country nonprofits are working on to better our communities.”
PEC grants benefited the Bertram Library and Highland Lakes Canine Rescue in 2022.
In the first round of grants in 2023, the Meals on Wheels Senior Center in Marble Falls received $5,000 for a new, energy-efficient air-conditioning unit.
“We are remodeling a building that was mostly warehouse, enclosing part of it to make a kitchen,” Carrie Berry told DailyTrib.com.
Berry is the program director of Meals on Wheels for Burnet and Williamson counties.
“We needed the additional air conditioner for the space that had no AC,” she continued. “We are really excited about it, and the PEC grant has really helped us.”
PEC’s latest grants gave $33,000 to local nonprofits. Since launching the program in 2016, the co-op has provided over $363,000 in funding to more than 87 organizations.
Nonprofits may submit an application for a PEC grant by visiting pec.coop/grants and clicking on the “Apply” button in the upper-right corner of the webpage.
Members can learn more about PEC’s Power of Change program and enroll today at pec.coop/change.