Membership Benefits

Bright Ideas

Each year, Tri-County EMC awards local teachers $30,000 in Bright Ideas Education Grants for classroom innovative projects in grades Pre-K through 12. Certified public or private school teachers in Baldwin, Jones, Putnam, Jasper, Twiggs, and Wilkinson Counties qualify to apply. Individual projects can be funded up to $1,500. Teachers are limited to one grant proposal per round of funding. Grants will be awarded annually based on merit and must be used within 18 months of the issue date. Applications must be completed and submitted by October 1, 2024, to be considered for funding. Funds come from unclaimed capital credits that otherwise would have been surrendered to the state.  

A panel of retired educators judges projects based on innovation, goals, learning objectives, student involvement, and budget.

Hundreds of students benefit yearly from innovative learning experiences brought forth by Bright Ideas Education Grants. To learn more, contact Anna Smith at 478.986.8126 or annas@tri-countyemc.com.  

Apply Here

Scoring Criteria
 

Effective July 2021:
Due to the Gratuities Clause of the Georgia Constitution, if a teacher accepts a new teaching position outside of the school district in which a Bright Ideas Grant was received, the materials purchased with grant funds should stay within the school district in which the grant funds  were originally awarded.

  • 2022 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2022 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2022 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2022 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2022 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2023 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2023 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2023 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient
  • 2023 Bright Ideas Grant Recipient