BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- The Heart of Cook Foundation Grant applications are now open for submission.

The Heart of Cook grant program is funded by Indiana Michigan Power's Cook Nuclear Plant and is administered by the Berrien Community Foundation to assist nonprofit programs in Southwest Michigan and Northwest Indiana.

“The Heart of Cook Grant Program has always been important in helping sustain many of our community’s nonprofits,” said Bill Downey, chair of the employee advisory committee for The Heart of Cook. “Our committee takes these applications very seriously in an effort to do the most good with the dollars we provide, and we’re excited to review another crop of worthy projects this year.”

The focus area for this grant program is environmental protection and preservation, educational projects, and human services. Organizations must have 501©(3) tax except or equivalent status to qualify for funding.

The deadline for submissions is July 1.

Grant applications and guidelines are available here.