Economic Development Scholarships

Midwest Energy awards scholarships for continuing education of individuals employed in economic development and chamber of commerce management in Midwest Energy's retail service area. We understand the importance of economic development to the vitality of the region.

The economic development organizations in our area have strong volunteer involvement, but may have difficulty supporting the cost of training for the directors or managers. An investment in training is an important component of a successful local program. Midwest Energy's expectation is that the participant and community will derive enough benefit from participation to self-support attendance at additional training.

Tuition scholarships are available for the following courses:

• Institute for Organization Management (Chamber Institute)
• Basic Economic Development Courses (Heartland ED Course, etc.)
• National Development Council (NDC) business financing courses
• Economic Development Institute (University of Oklahoma)
• Other training relevant to building community economic development capacity

Priority for limited annual scholarships will be given to:

• Attendance at the first course of a series,
• Participants or communities which have not previously received Midwest Energy assistance,
• Representatives of newly organized groups or new hires, and
• Participants representing counties and communities where Midwest Energy is the primary energy provider.

The participant or community will be responsible for transportation, room, meals and incidental expenses. The maximum individual tuition scholarship will be $1000. The recipient is responsible for registration and room reservations. Scholarship payments will be made directly to the recipient's organization upon evidence of successful course completion. A brief written report on the participant's experience with the course is required. Midwest Energy will issue a news release regarding participation upon completion.

Individuals wishing to be considered for a scholarship can apply by writing a one page letter to:

Midwest Energy, Inc.
Director Economic & Community Development
PO Box 898
Hays, KS 67601

The applicant should explain the reasons for attending the selected program and the need for the scholarship. Applications should be submitted at least two months prior to the event if possible. To learn more about economic development scholarships, contact Bob Muirhead at 785-650-2502.