Dakota Electric And CoBank Donate $20k To 3 Organizations

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Dakota Electric Association recently announced that it, along with its lender CoBank, donated $20,000 to three community organizations.

$10,000 was donated to 360 Communities, and $5,000 was donated to both Dakota Woodlands and Hastings Family Services, the association said.

360 Communities supports over 16,000 people each year from 45 different locations and provides them with programs such as food shelves, educational support and violence prevention and intervention, the association said.

Dakota Woodlands helps to provide a pathway to sustainable and independent housing for homeless women and families, and can assist 22 homeless families at one time, the association said.

Hastings Family Services provides a variety of services to the community, including a food pantry and thrift store, meals on wheels, transportation, and more, the association said. In 2020, the organization provided meals for 120 seniors and gifts for 485 children, Dakota Electric said.

Dakota Electric said that its donations were matched by CoBank through the company’s “Sharing Success” grant program.

“We are happy to partner with Dakota Electric for ten years through our Sharing Success program and provide such necessary help to quality community organizations in the area,” John Donner of CoBank said.

Through its matching program, CoBank has donated over $56 million across the U.S., the association said. Dakota Electric and CoBank have donated $125,000 locally during that time.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to double our donation through CoBank’s grant,” said Dakota Electric’s President and CEO Greg Miller. “We are glad that since COVID hit, CoBank has increased its matching grant amount making our donations go even farther.”

Dakota Electric Association is a customer-owned nonprofit that provides electricity across Dakota and surrounding counties, it said.

CoBank is a $160 billion cooperative bank that serves industries across rural America, Dakota Electric said.