State Director Greenfield Announces Investments in Adair, Adams, Black Hawk, Butler, Cass, Cerro Gordo, Decatur, Floyd, Franklin, Fremont, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Union, Tama, Taylor and Worth Counties to Improve Grid Security and Reliability
DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 30, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced the Department is investing $36,500,000 million in four projects to expand and modernize electric infrastructure in rural Iowa and southeast Minnesota. The projects are receiving funding through the Electric Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantee Program.
“Today's investments are a part of USDA's continuing mission to bring reliable, safe and affordable electric power to Iowa farms and rural hometown neighborhoods,” said Director Greenfield. “The Biden-Harris Administration is leading quality-of-life improvements in rural Iowa through modern infrastructure, which enables increased productivity for people, farms, and small businesses. Upgrading the electrical grid benefits us all.”
Today’s investments are part of a larger national announcement of 64 projects in 26 states funded through the Electric Loan Program. Nearly half of the investments will help finance infrastructure improvements in underserved communities.
The four Iowa projects are:
-Southwest Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative is receiving a $7,000,000 loan to help connect 326 consumers and build and improve 166 miles of line. This project includes $81,920 in smart grid technologies. The cooperative is headquartered in Corning, Iowa, and serves 5,981 members over 2,535 miles of line throughout 11 counties in Iowa. The counties are Adair, Adams, Cass, Decatur, Fremont, Mills, Montgomery, Page, Ringgold, Taylor and Union.
-Grundy County REC is receiving a $4,000,000 loan to connect 84 consumers and build and improve 31 miles of line. This project includes $1,066,936 in smart grid technologies. The cooperative is headquartered in Grundy Center, Iowa, and serves 2,274 members through 918 miles of line in six counties in east central Iowa. The counties are Black Hawk, Butler, Grundy, Hardin, Marshall, and Tama.
-Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative is receiving an $8,500,000 loan to connect 44 consumers and build and improve 104 miles of line. This project includes $850,689 in smart grid technologies. The cooperative is headquartered in in Hampton, Iowa, and serves 1,946 customers over approximately 856 miles of line in six counties in north central Iowa. The counties are Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Franklin, Hardin, and Wright.
-Freeborn-Mower Electric Cooperative is receiving a $17,000,000 loan to help to connect 450 consumers and build and improve 185 miles of line. This loan includes $2,284,785 in smart grid technologies. The cooperative is headquartered in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and serves 20,871 consumers over 2,961 miles of line in six counties in southeastern Minnesota and Worth County in north central Iowa.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with area offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Iowa, call (515) 284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans 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, Tribal, and high-poverty areas.
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