High Plains Bank and the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce Reignite Unity Funds the Community Nonprofit Grant Program

LONGMONT, CO, December 15, 2020 — Unity in the Community, the largest annual event produced by the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce, was canceled this year for the first time in the event’s history. The cancellation did not prevent Unity’s presenting sponsor, High Plains Bank, from relaunching “Unity Funds the Community”, the associated nonprofit grant program the business co-founded with the Longmont Chamber.

Since the announcement of the fund’s reactivation on August 28, 2020, the day Unity in the Community was to be held in Downtown Longmont, the “Unity Funds the Community” fund has exceeded $5,000 in donations from High Plains Bank, both Longmont Wal-Mart’s, and several other community donors. 

“Unity Funds the Community” grant recipients were announced on December 3rd at the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual business award ceremony. Historically, the Nonprofit of the Year award winner has received a $500 donation at the event. Due to the generosity of businesses and private citizens alike, the Longmont Chamber made the surprise announcement that the Nonprofit of the Year, Longmont Meals on Wheels, was to be awarded a $2,000 grant. Grants of $1,000 were awarded to each of the runners up: Cultivate, Longmont Food Rescue, and Pearl Group.

“High Plains Bank’s mission is to help people build thriving communities and to be a part of the fabric of our communities,” comments Michelle Baltierras, AVP and Director of Communications at High Plains Bank. “Setting up the “Unity Funds the Community” grant program is a way we can have a direct impact in serving our communities by providing much needed funding to our local nonprofits.”