“Having this equipment here will be more convenient, especially after late-night fires,” said HCFD member Ryan LaBrune. Before the equipment’s purchase, the department would need to coordinate with a neighboring volunteer fire department to get the tanks refilled.
The new equipment will be used primarily for the 18-member Holland Fire Department but can also be used by neighboring fire departments. The Holland Community Fire Department serves about 700 people in a 70-mile area around the western Minnesota community.
More than $2.5 million has been donated to area non-profits, schools, and communities since the year 2000 when Sioux Valley Energy started its Operation Round Up® (ORU) program. The program is simple – participating members “round up” their electric bill to the next high dollar and those “rounded up” funds are placed into a trust. Additionally, many Sioux Valley Energy employees donate from their paycheck each month. Each quarter the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees meets to review applications and consider grant requests.
A list of recent grant recipients, as well as information on how local organizations can apply for funding, can be found at https://www.siouxvalleyenergy.com/operation-round-up
The next deadline to apply for funding is May 20 with grants being awarded in June.
