

Thank you to those who contribute to Community Connection!
Your donations have funded over $1.5 million in grants to improve our community since September 1994!
Butler Rural Community Connection provides grants to local non-profit groups, schools, and organizations in portions of Butler, Montgomery, Preble and Hamilton counties. Funds for the program come from cooperative members and employees who voluntarily contribute to Community Connection each month. Some members choose to allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded to the next dollar amount, and the extra change is allocated to Community Connection. Other members and employees choose to donate a specific amount each month, or give a one-time donation.
Learn more about Community Connection below.
Any non-profit group, school, or organization located within Butler Rural Electric Cooperative's service territory is eligible to apply. Those who cannot apply for grants include political candidates and political parties. Organizations or groups who intend to use the grant money to pay their utility bills are not eligible to apply.
The maximum grant amount is $5,000. However, no request is too small. You may have additional pages with the application. Please do not exceed five pages. Please provide five copies of the application and any supporting material (up to five pages total).
- Include a list of the itemized costs for the project. A portion of the amount requested may be awarded if the Community Connection board of trustees choose not to fund the entire grant.
- If you are requesting a specific type of equipment, include a picture or description of the item. Many groups include advertisements from vendors that list the price and description of the item they need. This will not commit you to a specific vendor.
- Grants for Apple devices must be purchased by your organization or grant recipient. Butler Rural Community Connection will directly reimburse your organization or the purchaser.
- The Community Connection board of trustees reviews all applications.
- Funds are awarded in September and March of each year. The meeting date is posted on the cooperative's website as soon as it is decided. You will be contacted by letter after the meeting. The grant winners are also posted on the cooperative's website.
The next Community Connection application deadline is March 1st, 2024. The Community Connection Board of Trustees will meet March 13 to award spring grants.
NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE RELEASED JANUARY 1ST, 2024.
Five Butler Rural Electric Cooperative members serve on the Community Connection board of trustees. Each board member lives in different areas of the cooperative’s service territory and has diverse backgrounds and experiences. These members volunteer their time to serve on the Community Connection board and have a drive to do something positive for the community. They review hundreds of grant applications each year.
From left is Tom Laming, Janet Jewell, John Hofmann, Monica Neeley, and Don Kidd.
In the fall of 2023, Community Connection received 64 applications requesting over $130,000. The Butler Rural Community Connection Board of Trustees met on September 13, 2023 and awarded 43 grants, totaling $39,608 to the following organizations and groups.
Community Connection grant recipients from September 13, 2023
Organization | Grant Purpose | Award |
---|---|---|
Animal Friends Humane Society | Animal Microchipping | $800 |
Bogan Elementary | Wheelchair Swing/Sensory Corner | $909.80 |
Bogan Elementary Parent Teacher Group | Books & Rewards for Program | $500 |
Butler County Educational Service Center | Baby Supplies for Assistance Program | $1,277 |
Butler County Educational Service Center | Food Pantry Assistance | $1,500 |
Camden Comeback | Surface Mats | $500 |
Colerain Township Department of Fire and EMS | Training Resources | $767 |
First Baptist Church of Auburn | Children's Bedding | $500 |
Friends of Neighbors in Need | Backpack Program | $1,500 |
Germantown Fire & EMS | Battery Powered Tools | $930 |
Gratis EMS | Vacuum Splint Kits | $820 |
Greater Oxford Community Foundation | Dental Assistance for Students | $3,000 |
Harrison Junior School | Classroom Resource Tools | $750 |
Hope's Closet | Personal Item-Assistance | $3,520 |
Madison Elementary | Books | $750 |
Madison Middle School | Rocket Program | $850 |
Madison Township Fire Department | Equipment Battery Packs | $900 |
Marshall Elementary | Gym Equipment | $900 |
Marshall Elementary | Online Curriculum Lesson Plan | $299 |
Marshall Elementary | Ceramics Supplies | $800 |
New Miami Fire Department | Rescue Tools | $650 |
New Miami Police Department | Emergency Response Kits | $461.88 |
Open Hands Food Pantry | Food Pantry Assistance | $1,500 |
Oxford Cat Rehab c/o Maketank Inc. | Cat Rehab Materials | $1,100 |
Oxford Empty Bowls | Ceramic Supplies | $1,577 |
Oxford Women's Care Center | Signery for Care Center | $700 |
Parachute: Butler County CASA | Volunteer Training | $1,400 |
Power To The People | Utility Assistance | $2,220 |
Ross High School FCCLA | Community Service Projects | $1,000 |
Ross Intermediate School PTO | Playground Equipment | $770 |
Southwest Local School District | AED | $949 |
St. Clair Township Fire Department | Washer and Dryer Unit | $540 |
Talawanda High School FCCLA | Community Service Project | $1,000 |
Talawanda Middle School | School-Wide Read Aloud Event | $720 |
Talawanda Middle School | Classroom Learning Robot | $799 |
Trenton Fire Department | Batteries | $700 |
Union County College Corner Joint School District | Fall Festival | $1,000 |
Village of Camden | K9 Crusier | $750 |