The blacksmith shop at Historic White Pine Village
BOYNE CITY — Great Lakes Energy’s People Fund recently awarded 36 grants totaling more than $100,000 to local nonprofit organizations across the cooperative’s 26-county service area, which stretches from Kalamazoo to the Mackinac Straits. The central region board awarded nine grants totaling $28,377.77 and the south region board awarded 12 grants totaling $34,492 in the final grant cycle of 2025. The central service district includes the counties of Clare, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Osceola, and Wexford and the southern service district includes the counties of Allegan, Barry, Kent, Muskegon, Mecosta, Montcalm, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa.
Local grants were made to the Mason County Historical Society, Mason County PAWS Humane Society, Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm, Caritas Food Pantry, Love in the Name of Christ of Oceana County, and the Conservation Resource Alliance.
Since its inception in 1999, the People Fund has awarded more than $5.1 million in grants.
“At Great Lakes Energy, ‘Concern for Community’ is more than one of our seven cooperative principles: it’s a commitment. Through the People Fund, we’re proud to collaborate with our members to bring meaningful support to local programs and projects,” Great Lakes Energy President/CEO Shaun Lamp said. “Together, we’re making a lasting impact across the communities we serve.”
The program’s funding comes from electric cooperative members who agree to have their monthly bills rounded up to the next whole dollar.
Cooperative members also have the opportunity to increase their contributions to the People Fund through People Fund PLUS. This option allows members to choose an amount to contribute in addition to the monthly bill round-up.
Volunteer board members representing the cooperative’s north, central, and south regions award grants twice each year.
Lamp added: “None of this would be possible without the generosity of our members who continue to support the People Fund year after year. I encourage community non-profit groups in our service area to apply for the fund’s next round of grants in the spring.”
Central Area Grant Awards:
- Mason County Historical Society, Ludington: $5,500 to repair the leaking roof on the blacksmith shop at Historic White Pine Village.
- Mason County PAWS Humane Society, Scottville: $6,141.77 to run a water line to the pole barn.
- Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm Inc., Free Soil: $1,500 for lawn mower repairs and tree removal.
- Caritas Food Pantry, Custer: $1,620 for a new security door.
- Lakeside Club of Manistee County, Manistee: $2,016 for scanners to aid in the Lakeside Club Archival Project.
- Angels of Action, Big Rapids: $2,500 for vital hygiene items for K-12 students in need.
- Artworks Big Rapids Area Arts and Humanities, Hastings: $2,500 to update an existing A/V system.
- Conservation Resource Alliance, Traverse City: $3,500 for the Little South Branch Pere Marquette River Electrofishing Survey.
- Lincoln Township Fire Department, Reed City: $3,100 for equipment to facilitate training.
South Area Grant Awards:
- Love in the Name of Christ of Oceana County, Shelby: $3,300 for a printer replacement.
- Conservation Resource Alliance, Traverse City: $3,500 for the Little South Branch Pere Marquette River Electrofishing Survey.
- Angels of Action, Big Rapids: $2,500 for vital hygiene items for K-12 students in need.
- Artworks Big Rapids Area Arts and Humanities, Hastings: $2,500 to update an existing A/V system.
- Barry County Parks, Hastings: $2,500 for an enclosed trailer to transport an all-terrain wheelchair to all Barry County parks, contingent on raising the rest of the funding.
- Fountain Hill Center, Grand Rapids: $5,000 for therapy support for Oceana County students during summer break.
- Good Hands Plainwell, Plainwell: $1,500 for cereal for student weekend backpacks.
- Helping Hands, Howard City: $2,454 for a commercial-grade refrigerator.
- Heritage Museum of Newaygo County, Newaygo: $3,000 for the Traditional Wigwam Educational Exhibit.
- Missionaries Around Ravenna in Service, Ravenna: $258 for additional shelving.
- Music Sparks Meaning, Lansing: $2,000 for the Crescendo: Youth Outreach Initiative in West Michigan.
- Woodland Park Center, Inc., Bitely: $5,980 for internet and computer support.
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