After high school, adults with developmental disabilities have fewer opportunities to enrich their lives through exposure to life skills or recreational activities, and access is even more limited for those in rural areas.
But in Montana’s Kalispell Valley area, those opportunities will soon be within easier reach for those with autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome and other disabilities. A $50,000 community education grant from Flathead Electric Cooperative will help a local nonprofit agency build a continuing education center focusing on financial education, health and nutrition, exercise and recreation.
The grant will help Flathead Industries conclude a capital campaign to renovate an existing administrative building to house the center. Currently, more than 200 individuals receive 24/7 residential services and job training, but when the new center opens later this year, even more will benefit from the chance to live fuller lives, said Patrick Maddison, the group’s CEO.
“Further education and interest development for Flathead Valley residents with developmental disabilities does not exist,” he said, adding that services for this population generally provide housing or job training.
“So many individuals with developmental disabilities don’t have the same opportunities that you and I have to explore different recreational opportunities or just fun activities. There are so many more barriers for them.”
Flathead EC has been a longtime funding partner with Flathead Industries, which has received smaller awards from the co-op’s Roundup for Safety program for things like upgrades to the parking lot for its popular thrift store.
Unclaimed capital credit retirements—money unclaimed by members who left the area without leaving a forwarding address—are funding this latest award, a community education grant. When credit retirements have been unclaimed for more than five years, Montana law allows the money to be used for educational purposes.
“We do our best to connect members with their capital credits, but sometimes those funds go unclaimed,” said Katie Pfennigs, the co-op’s community relations manager. “We are grateful that Montana law allows our trustees to redistribute those unclaimed capital credit retirements for educational purposes that benefit our members.”
The co-op asked Flathead Industries to apply for the community education grant when it learned that the agency was trying to finish raising money for its capital campaign, its first in 30-some years.
“It just seemed like a beautiful pairing of education dollars to serve a really underserved population. Flathead Industries covers a huge need in our community, and it’s the only thing in our area that provides support to adults with developmental disabilities once they graduate from high school,” said Courtney Stone, Flathead EC’s communications and marketing supervisor.
Maddison appreciated the co-op’s understanding of the center’s mission to promote inclusion, independence and opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.
“They’ve been an absolute wonderful partner. It’s pretty rare to work with an electric company and talk about your vision and have them support you through the whole process.”
Editor’s note: An electric co-op’s ability to retain unclaimed capital credit retirements varies based on state law. Co-ops are encouraged to work with their local attorney regarding questions about unclaimed capital credit retirements.
Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer for NRECA.