MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Central Electric Cooperative is accepting Operation Round-Up grant applications from local organizations until Oct. 31. Through Operation Round-Up, groups can request up to $3,000 for projects that benefit cooperative members and their communities. Operation Round-Up is a voluntary program in which Central Electric members round up their monthly electric bill to the next whole dollar. Those extra cents, along with contributions from cooperative employees and board members, are pooled together to fund local projects. Funds are awarded twice a year by a volunteer board of trustees representing Aurora, Brule, Buffalo, Davison, Hanson, Jerauld, Miner and Sanborn Counties. Since the program launched in 2015, more than $230,000 has been raised for local projects. In recent years, grants have supported nutrition programs, emergency services, park improvements, building upgrades and educational initiatives. Grant recipients have included non-profit groups, community clubs, cemetery associations, ambulance services, fire departments, schools and municipalities. Applicants are not required to be Central Electric members, but eligible projects should benefit the cooperative’s service area. Funding guidelines and a fillable application are available online at www.centralec.coop/operation-round-up or by calling 1-800-477-2892.