USDA Ohio Rural Development State Director David L. Hall today announced Rio Grande-based Buckeye Rural Electric is among cooperatives in 10 states that will receive more than $181 million to upgrade systems and equipment.
“For more than 80 years now, USDA has been proud to partner with member-owned cooperatives like Buckeye Rural Electric as they work to rebuild and expand essential infrastructure in America’s heartland,” said Hall. “In fact, Buckeye Rural Electric has served the people of southeast Appalachian Ohio since 1938 – almost from the beginning of the original Rural Electrification Administration Act itself. Their commitment to their members is a testament to how rural is done, and we’re pleased to play a role in helping them build a brighter future for rural Ohio.”
Buckeye Rural Electric will use its $19.7 million to build and improve nearly 100 miles of line that will serve 600 new customers. Buckeye also is investing $327,000 in smart grid technologies designed to increase system resilience, safety and efficiency. Buckeye serves more than 18,600 members covering more than 2,600 miles of line in Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Lawrence, Meigs, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties.
In addition to the Ohio project, USDA is helping finance 11 other projects in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin through its Electric Loan Program. The funding will help build and improve 1,354 miles of line and includes $7.7 million for smart grid technologies nationwide.
USDA will make additional funding announcements in the coming weeks. Congress appropriated $5.5 billion for USDA’s Electric Loan Program in fiscal year 2019.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to leverage opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To read the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to see the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.