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ABOVE: A $1,500 grant from Operation Round Up was awarded to the Osceola Historical Society, where volunteer members are working to digitize 100 years of local newspapers. 

Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up awarded $9,677 to nine nonprofits serving our community October 7. Fall grants will go to programs that support youth, families and senior citizens.

Fall Operation Round Up grant recipients are:

1. Milltown Public Library, $1,000, activity bags for senior citizens
2. Grantsburg Community Education, $1,000, STAR mentoring program for students
3. Town of Lorain Fire Department, $1,000, light bar, emergency flashers and speaker for brush truck
4. Luck Senior Citizens Center, $1,500, exterior building staining and caulking
5. Clear Lake Museum, $1,000, newspaper archives and preservation of Sen. Gaylord Nelson papers
6. Grantsburg Village Improvement Program, $1,000, community splash pad
7. Healthy Burnett, $677.30, website
8. Osceola Historical Society, $1,500, digitize 100+ years of local newspapers
9. Skonewood Retreat, $1,000, security lights, electrical rewiring, Wi-Fi installation

Funding for Operation Round Up is donated by members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative who round their monthly electric bill up to the next even dollar amount. Grant recipients are selected quarterly by a committee of co-op members, with financial donations awarded to nonprofit organizations that improve our local quality of life.

“Polk-Burnett is pleased to support our community through Operation Round Up, and we thank our members for their participation and generosity. Operation Round Up aligns with our co-op values and enables us to power our community with more than electricity,” said Polk-Burnett General Manager Steve Stroshane. “Together, we are making a difference.”

Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a grant or co-op members who’d like to round their bill up in support of Operation Round Up may contact 800-421-0283 or our Operation Round Up webpage. The next application deadline is December 1.

Operation Round Up awards grant to Milltown Public Library


Milltown Public Library sends activity bags to area senior citizens each month thanks to a community partnership. Bags are assembled by volunteers from Endeavors Adult Development Center and delivered to local seniors through Meals on Wheels. Contents of the bags include a reading book, an activity book, a movie or music CD, small treats or candy, and practical items, such as a pen or pencil. Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up presented a $1,000 grant to help support the program. 


Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up awarded $1,000 to Grantsburg Community Education for its STAR Mentoring Program, where students in grades K-8 are paired with adult mentors from the community. Mentors and students connect in the spring and fall for one-on-one and group activities.