Halifax EMC in partnership with CoBank, has made a contribution to enhance recreational opportunities in the Littleton area. Together, the organizations provided matching donations to C.A.R.E./The John 3:16 Center in support of the construction of new community pickleball and tennis courts.
On Friday, August 8, Halifax EMC presented a $5,000 check to The John 3:16 Center. Grading is already underway on the designated site, which will feature a total of four pickleball courts and one dedicated tennis court.
While the new courts will be located on the grounds of The John 3:16 Center, they will be open to the public from dawn until dusk, providing a new outlet for recreation, health, and community engagement.
“Our goal is to bring fitness and fun to families in the community,” said Shannon McAllister, Executive Director at The John 3:16 Center. “We’re also excited to create a space that enhances the recreational education we offer to children in our programs.”
“The Co-op is proud to support a project that focuses on the well-being of local residents and creates accessible spaces that bring people together through physical activity and play,” said Tucker Lemley, Chief Executive Officer of Halifax EMC.
CoBank, a national cooperative bank headquartered in Colorado, matched Halifax EMC’s contribution through its Sharing Success program, which supports charitable efforts in rural communities by doubling its members’ donations.
Pictured in front of the future pickleball/tennis courts from left to right are Halifax EMC Chief Executive Officer Tucker Lemley, Halifax EMC Director Barbara Brayboy, John 3:16 Executive Director Shannon McAllister, John 3:16 Operations Director Jennifer Parrott; and Halifax EMC Director Macon Robertson.
Halifax EMC has awarded $7,063 in Bright Ideas education grants to six local teachers to fund creative, engaging projects for their classroom. More than 386 students at schools in our local community will benefit from the support of their local co-op. These special classroom projects focus on reading, science, outdoor classrooms and more.
“Halifax EMC believes that investing in education is an investment in the future of our community,” said Julia Allsbrook, director of member services and community engagement. “The Bright Ideas Education Grants empower local teachers to bring innovative and impactful projects to life, sparking curiosity and creativity in the classroom. By supporting our educators, we’re ensuring that students have access to enriching opportunities that inspire lifelong learning.”
This year’s local Bright Ideas grant winners are:
Melinda Rogerson, Littleton Academy, “Down to Earth: Laying the Groundwork for Future Scientist”
Diane Colin, Littleton Academy, “Happy Jammin’ Around the World”
Haley Curley, Littleton Academy, “Establishing an Innovative Outdoor Classroom at Littleton Academy”
Kelly Allen, Littleton Academy, “BOOK-O-LYMPICS
Since the Bright Ideas grant program began 30 years ago, Halifax EMC has contributed more than $207,000 to local teachers. Grants are awarded for projects in all subject areas, such as music, art, history, reading, science, math and more. Bright Ideas grants support local teachers with creative ideas to increase innovation, expand learning opportunities and enhance student success in K-12 classrooms.
Halifax EMC is one of 26 electric cooperatives in North Carolina offering Bright Ideas grants to local teachers. Over the past 30 years, North Carolina’s electric cooperatives collectively have awarded nearly $16 million in Bright Ideas funding for 14,700 projects, benefitting more than 3.65 million students.
The Bright Ideas grant program is part of Halifax EMC’s ongoing commitment to building a brighter future through support of education.
Bright Ideas grant applications are accepted by Halifax EMC each year from April through mid-September, and winning proposals are selected in a competitive evaluation process by a panel of judges. The application process will reopen for interested teachers in April 2025.
To learn more about the Bright Ideas education grant program, visit www.ncbrightideas.com.
Halifax EMC Director of Member Services & Community Engagement, Julia Allsbrook, Vaughan Elementary Bright Ideas education grant recipient Cameran Callahan, and Halifax EMC Energy Services & Safety Coordinator Butch Vogel.
Littleton Academy’s Bright Ideas education grant recipients; Haley Curley, Kelly Allen, Raleigh Tant, Diane Colin and Melinda Rogerson.
Halifax Electric Membership Corporation (Halifax EMC) is proud to announce the award of a $150,000 interest-free loan to the Long Bridge Volunteer Fire Department (Long Bridge VFD) in Littleton, NC. This loan was used to purchase a 2001 E-One Quint Ladder truck, significantly enhancing the department’s firefighting capabilities and service to the community.
The funds for this loan are provided through Halifax EMC’s revolving Community Loan Program, made possible by the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG). This program is designed to promote economic development and community services in rural areas by providing zero-interest loans to local utilities, which then relend the funds to support essential community projects.
A formal check presentation was held on Tuesday, July 2, where Halifax EMC representatives handed over the check to the Long Bridge VFD at their station. This critical funding will enable the fire department to upgrade its equipment, improving its capabilities and firefighting efficiency in the Littleton and Lake Gaston area.
Fire Chief Bruce Dunlevy expressed his gratitude: “With multi story homes getting larger and taller and townhome communities increasing this new ladder truck is a much-needed addition to our fleet. The generous support from Halifax EMC and the USDA’s REDLG program ensures that we can better serve and protect our community. This truck will enhance our ability to respond to emergencies, ultimately helping to save lives and property.”
The 2001 E-One Quint Ladder truck is a versatile vehicle that is only 35 feet long with easy maneuvering and also combines the functions of an engine and a ladder truck. It features a 75-foot ladder, a 2,000 GPM pump, a 500-gallon water tank, and multiple ground ladders, making it ideal for a wide range of emergency situations.
“Carrying out a core cooperative principle, Concern for Community, Halifax EMC is happy to have the opportunity to lower the financial burden of communities keeping themselves safe,” said Chief Executive Officer Tucker Lemley.
Halifax EMC’s Community Loan Program exemplifies its commitment to supporting local communities and enhancing public safety infrastructure. The Long Bridge Volunteer Fire Department is excited about the positive impact this new equipment will have on its operations and the safety of the Littleton community.
Halifax EMC is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving approximately 10,000 members in portions of Halifax, Warren, Martin, and Nash Counties. Halifax EMC is committed to delivering exceptional value and service to our communities with care.
Pictured left to right are HEMC Director Stan Brothers, Raleigh Pierce, Richard Rowe, Long Bridge VFD President Hugh Freeman, Kendra Pierce, Billie Reed, Long Bridge VFD Chief Bruce Dunlevy, Duane Rice, and HEMC CEO Tucker Lemley. Special appearance in front by doggie, Blue.
Halifax Electric Membership Corporation (Halifax EMC) is currently accepting applications for the Retired Manager’s Scholarship. This scholarship program is aimed at supporting the educational aspirations of current high school seniors whose parents or guardians are members of Halifax EMC.
Eligible applicants must be intending to enroll as full-time students in accredited North Carolina universities or colleges, including junior, community, vocational, or technical colleges.
“The Retired Manager’s Scholarship reflects Halifax EMC’s commitment to empowering the next generation of leaders and supporting their pursuit of higher education,” said Julia Allsbrook, manager of member services and community engagement at Halifax EMC. “We are dedicated to investing in the academic success of our community’s youth and providing them with opportunities to achieve their educational goals.”
The scholarship program aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with pursuing higher education and assist deserving students in reaching their academic potential. Halifax EMC will award scholarships to selected candidates based on their academic achievements, financial need, extracurricular involvement, and letters of recommendation.
To apply for the Retired Manager’s Scholarship, interested candidates can click here to access the application form and review the eligibility criteria. The deadline for submitting applications is April 1.
Halifax Electric Membership Corporation is a member-owned electric cooperative serving over 10,000 members in four counties of North Carolina. Since 1938, Halifax EMC has been dedicated to providing reliable electric service and supporting the communities it serves through various educational, economic development, and community outreach initiatives.
Halifax Helps, Inc., the administrative organization for Operation Round Up® through Halifax Electric Membership Corporation, recently awarded over $17,000 in grants to six local organizations.
The following organizations received grants at an awards presentation held at Halifax EMC’s Enfield location on Tuesday, December 19, 2023:
Halifax Academy Patron Organization, “Playground of Possibilities”
Historic Episcopal Church of the Advent, “Parish House Updates”
Hollister Community Center, “Building Safety and First Response”
Sylvan Heights Bird Park, “Education Department Programming Augmentation”
New Providence Christian Missionary Baptist Church, “First Aid Response and Safety”
Rho Tau Omega Chapter – Scholarships and Service Projects, Inc., “Special Needs of Childhood: Food and Emotional Sustainability”
Through the generosity of Halifax EMC members who choose to round their electric bill up to the nearest dollar each month, Halifax Helps has awarded 285 grants totaling over $704,000 to local organizations over the past 15 years. Proof that we can spark change with spare change!
Halifax Helps was established in 2008 to support community projects that address emergency response, economic development, education, energy efficiency, or the environment. Grants are awarded semi-annually, and the grant guidelines and applications are available at halifaxemc.com. The next deadline for submission is March 29, 2024.
Pictured: (back row, left to right) June Wollett and Jimmie Silver, Hollister Community Center; Ann Newbern, Historic Episcopal Church of the Advent; Lindsee Dickens, Halifax Academy Patron Organization; (front row) Kim Graybeal, Halifax Academy Patron Organization; Julie Connelly, Sylvan Heights Bird Park; Ginny Franklin and Margaret Bullock, Rho Tau Omega Chapter – Scholarships and Service Projects; and Shauna Davis, New Providence Christian Missionary Baptist Church.
Approximately 1,800 high schools students gathered in Washington, D.C. June 18-23 as delegates to the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour.
LaTonya Nolen of Enfield poses inside the U.S. Capitol Building during the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour to Washington, D.C.
Dozens of North Carolina students, including one local delegate sponsored by Halifax EMC, took part in the week-long opportunity.
LaTonya Nolen of Enfield was selected as a delegate to the Tour by Halifax EMC after completing an application and essay. LaTonya is a rising senior at Halifax County Early College.
On the Youth Tour, students participated in leadership training, engaged in one-on-one conversations with elected officials, jumpstarted their national peer network, learned about electric cooperatives and toured D.C.’s historic monuments and museums.
“Our Youth Tourists explored D.C. with confidence and curiosity, and that was great to see,” said Julia Allsbrook, manager of marketing and economic development. “The Youth Tour emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and the fact that politics touch every aspect of life. We hope the experiences and skills that delegates gained during the trip will benefit them on their journey to becoming our next great leaders.”
On the seven-day tour, students learned about United States history at the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and many of the Smithsonian museums. The delegates paid their respects to soldiers who lost their lives in service to the nation at Arlington National Cemetery, and visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall as well as the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Several members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation answered policy questions and offered advice to the students in a meeting on Capitol Hill.
For 58 years, America’s electric cooperatives have brought students together from communities across America to build connections and practice leadership on the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour. Forty-three students from North Carolina participated this year, joining peers representing electric co-ops in 43 states.
Students apply and are selected for the Youth Tour program by their local electric cooperative. Nearly 50,000 students have participated in this program nationally, and Halifax EMC has sent local students since 1967.
See highlights, photos and live videos from the North Carolina Youth Tour on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Halifax Helps, Inc., the administrative organization for Operation Round Up® through Halifax Electric Membership Corporation, awarded grants to eight local organizations in mid-November.
The following organizations were awarded grants:
• Rocky Swamp Meeting House
• Macon Rural Fire Department
• C.A.R.E. – The John 3:16 Center
• American Legion Post #325
• Enfield Economic Development and Revitalization
• Mu Theta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho
• Fleming’s Community Outreach and Resources
• The Living and Learning Youth Center
Through the generosity of members who round up their monthly electric bill to the next dollar, Operation Round Up® has helped our neighbors and community by contributing $661,000 to local nonprofit organizations and charities since 2009. A total of 269 projects have been supported locally.
Grants are awarded semi-annually and the application and guidelines are available here. The deadline for the next submission of applications is Friday, March 31, 2023.
Halifax Helps grant recipients pictured above (left to right): Lynn Henry, Macon Rural VFD; Celia Strickland, secretary/treasurer of Halifax Helps; Betty Mohorn, Rock Swamp Meeting House; Barbara Fleming, Fleming’s Community Outreach; Charles Guerry, executive vice president of HEMC; Terry Alston Jones, Living and Learning Youth Center; Melissa Battle, American Legion Post #325; Shannon McAllister, John 3:16 Center; and Lisa Jordan-Ellis, Living and Learning Youth Center.
Lorelei Jean with NC State Wolfpack Women’s head coach Wes Moore.
Two local students practiced alongside athletes and coaches from top-ranked college basketball programs this summer, thanks to Halifax EMC’s Touchstone Energy Sports Camp scholarships.
Lorelei Jean and Keshiya Evans, both from Halifax County, attended the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Camp at NC State University in Raleigh, led by head coach Wes Moore.
“Lorelei and Keshiya are outstanding students, athletes and community members,” said Julia Allsbrook, manager of Marketing and Economic Development at Halifax EMC. “We are proud to partner with a prestigious North Carolina university to help provide such a unique leadership and learning experience for our local students and future leaders.”
The campers joined more than 20 electric co-op scholarship winners statewide at the camp, where they stayed overnight in dorms and experienced life as a college student. At camp, coaches and student-athletes worked directly with campers to develop basketball fundamentals and practice skills such as teamwork that will help them excel on and off the court.
Keshiya Evans with NC State Wolfpack Women’s head coach Wes Moore.
Touchstone Energy Sports Camp scholarships are available each year as part of Halifax EMC’s commitment to supporting youth and education in our community. Congratulations to Lorelei and Keshiya for earning these scholarships and representing Halifax EMC at basketball camp this summer!
Halifax Helps, Inc., recently awarded 11 organizations grants totaling $23,400. Halifax Helps was established in 2008 to provide financial assistance to areas served by Halifax Electric Membership Corporation in economic development, education, emergency responders, energy efficiency, and environment. Funds for the grants are collected through Operation Round Up, a voluntary program that rounds participating members’ electric bills to the nearest dollar.
Grant recipients were:
• Halifax County Cooperative Extension Service
• Fleming’s Community Outreach and Resources
• Historic Episcopal Church of the Advent
• Sylvan Heights Bird Park
• Warrenton Lions Club
• Roanoke Valley D.I.R.T. Ministries
• Enfield Fire Department
• The Living and Learning Youth Center
• Choanoke Area Development Association (C.A.D.A.)
• Families Supporting Families
• American Red Cross
Halifax County received a $170,000 zero-interest loan to help pay for a new roll-off truck for the Solid Waste Division of the county’s Public Utilities Department. Halifax Electric Membership Corporation is playing a supporting role in the purchase of the new roll-off truck by facilitating a loan funded from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.
Halifax County’s new 2022 Mack Granite 64FR Roll-Off will aid the department in delivering waste to the county’s landfill site.
“Halifax County is grateful to Halifax EMC in facilitating the USDA REDLG zero-interest loan for the purchase of this new roll-off truck,” said Dia Denton, Interim County Manager. “Halifax County strives in all of our departments to provide the highest quality service to our citizens at the lowest possible cost. Having the zero-interest loan for this new equipment is assisting us in doing just that.”
“Facilitating zero-interest USDA REDLG loans allows us to support our communities far beyond our electric service,” said Charles Guerry, Halifax EMC executive vice president and general manager. “This is the co-op’s second zero-interest USDA REDLG loan to the county and we look forward to assisting with any future needs.”
In the past several years, Halifax EMC has secured more than $1.9 million in USDA funding within Halifax and Warren counties for fire trucks, patrol vehicles, a fireboat, as well as electric nursing home beds. As the funds are repaid, they are re-loaned to assist with future projects in communities served by Halifax EMC.
Pictured with the roll-off truck are: (left to right): Mary Duncan, Halifax County finance director; Christina Wells, assistant county manager; Greg Griffin, Halifax County public utilities director; Ed Stanfield, Halifax County solid waste operations & maintenance supervisor; Dia Denton, interim county manager; Charles Guerry, Halifax EMC executive vice president; Betty Jo Shepheard, eastern regional field representative for the Office of Senator Richard Burr; and Halifax EMC board of directors Harry Williams, Morell Jones, and Stanley Brothers.
