Investments to benefit more than 6,000 Residents and Commercial Customers
The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $10,556,000 in Cherry-Todd Electric Cooperative to build and improve critical electric infrastructure that will benefit more than 6,000 rural residents and commercial customers in South Dakota and Nebraska.
“This Rural Development investment will be used to connect 260 consumers and build and improve 71 miles of line, improving electric service for rural communities in the service area. Cherry-Todd Electric Cooperative is headquartered in Mission, SD,” said USDA Rural Development State Director for South Dakota Julie Gross and State Director for Nebraska Karl Elmshaeuser. “The cooperative operates 2,398 miles in Mellette and Todd counties in central South Dakota and Cherry and Keya Paha counties in north central Nebraska. Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA continues to be a strong partner with rural communities, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Background:
Today’s announcement is in conjunction with a larger announcement made by USDA where it is investing in 10 projects through the Electric Loan Program. This funding will help build and improve 3,741 miles of line to improve electric reliability and resilience in rural areas in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The loans include $80 million for investments in smart grid technology, which uses digital communications to detect and react to local changes in electricity usage.
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.
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