CoBank Sharing Success Grant Program

The application period for 2023 is now closed! The next application period will begin in January 2024.  

The CoBank Sharing Success Grant Program is designed to help its customers, such as Lane-Scott Electric, provide grants to charitable organizations and causes in our local communities. CoBank is a national nonprofit cooperative bank owned by the rural American cooperatives it serves. Since the Sharing Success Program was established in 2012, CoBank and its customers have together contributed more than $50 million to groups such as volunteer fire departments, local schools, and hunger relief programs to name a few.

During the application period, 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, and other non 501(c)(3)'s such as schools, government organizations such as counties, municipalities, and their agencies or departments are encouraged to apply. Use of the grants must be to benefit a community or communities who receive electric service from Lane-Scott or who's purpose benefits members of Lane-Scott.

• Organizations are allowed only one application per year.

• After the grant is awarded, the funding must be used within 12 months of its award.

• The project must serve a public purpose.

Examples of awarded grant uses from other CoBank customers include - building upgrades and repairs, upgraded technology, aid towards programs that offer a service to the community, food banks, fire department equipment, local school hunger relief programs, museum exhibits, public library programs, child development programs, ministry programs, cemetery marker restoration, health center equipment, recreation commission projects, and the list goes on!

2022 Lane-Scott Recipients:

1.    The American Legion Riders Post 392 located in Bazine, KS is a national non-profit organization with over 110,000 riders and 2,000 chapters well known for their charitable work raising money not only for local chapters but nationwide. Locally, the riders are known for doing send-offs and welcome home ceremonies, veteran funerals, honor flights, sending care packages, and helping with meals for the Kansas American Legion Legacy Ride. The $1,000 grant will help with expenses needed for their fundraiser run who's proceeds will be donated to organizations that help with Veteran suicide prevention.

2.       The Ness City Leisure Years Center, a non-profit organization designed as a place for community members to get together for many functions including daily lunch, exercising, games, and other activities. The building is also rented for functions such as graduations, showers, and reunions. Their $1,000 grant will be used for new LED lighting throughout the center to help reduce their monthly utility bill and increase the quality of lighting in the center.

3.       The Ransom VFW Post 7972 will assist with the Western Plains Honor Flight to help area Veterans experience Washington D.C., to visit the various military monuments with other deserving veterans from across the United States. Local high school students also gain from the experience by serving as guardians for the Veterans.

4.       The Lane County Fire Department is a volunteer department which serves a population of over 1,500 people and 711 square miles with 32 volunteers and 5 rural fire stations throughout the county. The fire department will use the grant to purchase safety equipment such as extraction and grain bin rescue equipment.