PPL Montana is accepting applications from community organizations for a share of $100,000 in grants from its Community Fund. The grants help support projects that improve the quality of education, enhance the environment and spur economic development throughout Montana.

“Since we began the Community Fund in 2005, we’ve awarded $400,000 to 63 organizations,” said Lisa Perry, community affairs manager for PPL Montana. “We’re proud to support our fellow Montanans who have developed these projects to improve the cultural and economic growth of our state. I encourage community groups, environmental organizations and academic institutions to apply for the spring grants.”

PPL Montana issues its Community Fund grants in the spring and fall. Organizations can request amounts up to $10,000. The deadline to apply for the spring 2007 grants is Jan. 31.

An 18-member, statewide advisory board, which includes civic and business leaders as well as PPL Montana employees, helps determine how best to distribute the funds. The spring grants will be awarded at the end of March.

For more information about the Community Fund, or to apply, click here.

PPL has 500 employees in Montana who generate and sell electricity. PPL Montana operates coal-fired power plants at Colstrip and Billings, as well as 11 hydroelectric plants along West Rosebud Creek and the Missouri, Madison, Clark Fork and Flathead rivers. It has a combined generating capacity of more than 1,200 megawatts and has offices in Billings, Butte and Helena. PPL EnergyPlus operates a trading floor in Butte that markets and sells power in the wholesale and retail energy market. PPL Montana and PPL EnergyPlus are subsidiaries of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL).