Lorain-Medina Rural Electric Cooperative (LMRE), in partnership with CoBank, a national cooperative bank, is proud to announce a $4,695.55 grant to the Lorain County Joint Vocational School for their Industrial Electricity program. The purpose of the funding is to help the program purchase necessary equipment and materials that will push its students ahead in the electrical trades.
Bill Kuhn, the Industrial Electricity program instructor at the JVS, sought the grant as a way to continually improve the education and experience his electricity students receive during their time with the vocational school.
“The CoBank grant is a huge win for my program. We’ve been working hard to provide new, cutting-edge industry credentials for my students to earn and take with them out into the field,” Kuhn said. “This grant money will go a long way in purchasing some of the equipment needed to train and award my students those credentials.”
The CoBank Sharing Success matching grant program allows LMRE to demonstrate “Concern for Community,” one of its seven cooperative principles. Through the program and this grant, LMRE can support those in need and help foster the growth of a happy, healthy, and prosperous community education program.
“Our schools are the bedrock of our communities. Not only do they touch the lives of all our kids, but they also have a direct impact on our community and its residents’ quality of life,” said LMRE President/CEO Ed VanHoose. “Moreso, these JVS students are learning skills that we as an electric cooperative highly value. We may even see them working for LMRE or another co-op someday, so it’s important for us to encourage their educations wherever possible.”
LMRE continues to partner with CoBank to assist schools, organizations, and the community with funding wherever possible. In 2023, LMRE was able to award $10,000, with an additional $10,000 in matching funds from CoBank, to worthwhile organizations in its territory.
For more information about LMRE, CoBank, or the Sharing Success program, please visit www.lmre.org.