| ***USDA    Rural Utilities Service    Electric Program****Success***
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 ***Electric Program and Jobs Created***

According to USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates, 23 jobs are created    for every $1 million of Federal investment in electric infrastructure. Using a standard    formula based on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis, and accepted    output and employment multipliers, the yearly appropriations for the RUS    Electric Program are estimated to create jobs as shown below:

  
*Examples of Local Successes As a Result of    the Partnership*Between RUS, USDA Rural Development and RUS Electric Borrowers***Note: Many of the following examples were a result of      the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program (REDLG), which was      originally implemented under the Rural Electrification Administration.      After USDA reorganization in 1994, the REDLG was transferred to the Rural      Business-Cooperative Service, also under the USDA Rural      Development Mission Area. RUS Electric borrowers (as well as      Telecommunications borrowers) are able to receive funding for economic      development, due to their status and financial standing as RUS borrowers.

Also, RUS does not directly      finance many of the programs and activities listed, as they do not meet      the criteria established by the Rural Electrification Act. However,      without the support of the RUS program many of the borrowers would be      unable to participate or actively support the community and economic      development projects listed below. Without the active participation of      borrowers in these efforts, many parts of rural America would not be      participating in America's current economic revival. Improving the quality      of life in rural America is a central theme that serves as a beacon to      guide many RUS borrowers.**Select a state for detailed information or scroll down*ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMAMDMEMIMNMOMSMTNENCNDNHNJNMNVNYOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVAVTWAWIWVWY  **Alabama    
Cherokee Electric Cooperative serves 20,000 meters in portions      of Cherokee, DeKalb, Marshall, Etowah, and Calhoun counties in Northeast      Alabama. With the help of a $ 200,000 grant from USDA, a revolving      loan fund was established to support economic and community development.      The money is loaned at low interest rates for a maximum of 80 percent of a      project's cost, to be repaid within a 10-year period. Revolving loan funds      have been made available for the following projects:
- Town of Cedar Bluff to purchase and renovate a commercial building          creating 174 new jobs.
- Town of Leesburg to finance a building for the Volunteer Fire          Department and to develop an industrial park.
- Town of Sand Rock to purchase a Class A pumper truck for the          Volunteer Fire Department.
- Baker Enterprises to purchase a 20 kW generator to provide backup          power to WEIS radio station for broadcasting during power outages          caused by severe weather.
**Arkansas
Craighead Electric Cooperative (CEC)of Jonesboro, Arkansas received      an RUS loan of $13,969,000, December 1987. These loan funds were used to      1) construct 51 miles of new distribution line to serve 810 meters, 2) replacement of three substations, and      3) upgrade a fourth station to      receive transmission service at 100+ kV rather than the severely      deteriorating 34.5 kV lines. The upgrade of metering facilities at 16 substations, along with the standard system      upgrades and replacements were      also included as part of the workplan supporting the loan. The cooperative      provides service to more than 25,000 meters using 4,500 miles of line.

CEC takes pride in the community development project, "Teacher      Touring Business Workshop." This project is a joint effort with the      Arkansas Education Service Center in Black Rock and the Northeast Arkansas      Educational Cooperative in Hoxie. The project exposes high school teachers      to the business world using a tour of the businesses and industries in the      area. This education and networking experience provides the teachers with      a better understanding of the workplace and how they can best make      connections with businesses in the area to better prepare the students to      directly enter the workforce or for future job placement following      college. Another goal of the project is to provide the teachers first hand      business experience with an emphasis to help "at risk" students,      who may feel math and sciences are unimportant. It is imperative that students realize the importance of education to the business community and      recognize the significance of each high school classroom experience in      their personal and professional development. The participating businesses      also benefited by taking part in the tour as they established working      relationships with the teachers with the hope that these relationships      will continue throughout the school year.
**Rich Mountain Electric Cooperative, Inc. (RMEC) is located in      the City of Mena and serves 7,600 meters with 1,500 miles of line and 6      substations. RMEC recognizes the importance of an area's electric      infrastructure to the process of economic and community development along      with improving the quality of life for its customers. In this effort REMC applied for and received a RUS direct loan of $ 4,033,000      on      February 11, 1998, to build new electric plant and upgrade the current      system by upgrading single-phase distribution lines and the conversion of      single-phase to three-phase lines. More than 50 percent of the land mass      contained within the RMEC's service area is classified as forest land      owned and controlled by the U.S. Forest Service, State Parks and      Recreational Service, and private forest interests such as Weyerhaeuser      Company and International Paper.

RMEC is actively involved in the organization of rural fire      departments. The cooperative has participated in capital funding campaigns      for the building of facilities and the purchase of equipment. Also      included in this public safety effort is the RMEC sponsored first aid      training and regular electric safety training programs.

The support of education is a top priority at Rich Mountain Electric      Co-op. The cooperative places electric ranges in each of the area high      schools and replaces them on a three-year cycle. To make distance learning      available, RMEC obtained and installed television satellite dishes at area      high schools. They also conduct ongoing electrical safety      demonstrations for all 3rd and 4th grade students in      the area.

RMEC donated $ 10,000 to the Industrial Development Committee of the      Mena-Polk County Chamber of Commerce to support the purchase of a 40-acre      industrial site. A three-phase line was extended to the area and a      plastics manufacturer, employing 30 people, took up residence at the site.      RMEC also has extended three-phase feeder circuits to strategic areas      surrounding the Mena Intermountain Municipal Airport to serve planned      airport commercial and industrial expansion.
**Colorado
Morgan County Rural Electric Association (MCREA)of Fort Morgan      provides electric service to nearly 4,000 square miles of Northeastern      Colorado. MCREA was awarded a $ 1,750,000 RUS loan in January 1998 to      upgrade and build new distribution plant.

MCREA provides regularly scheduled safety instruction to school      children in grades 3-5 reaching approximately 1,500 students in 7 schools.

MCREA recently received the first "SAGE"      (Support, Assistance, Generosity and Encouragement) award, presented by      the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation (MCEDC). The      cooperative was honor for their efforts in the following projects:
- Creating a video entitled, "Morgan County Colorado - Where          Agriculture Feeds Industry;"
- Spearheading the project, "Creating a Vision for the Wiggins          Community;" and,
- Actively participating in MCEDC activities including production of          multimedia presentation of the Development Council's financial report.
**Y-W Electric Association, Inc. of Akron, Colorado, received a $ 1,491,650 loan from RUS to upgrade existing facilities and build new      electric distribution plant. Y-W Electric provides service to more than      7,750 meters maintaining 4,100 miles of line in Yuma and Washington      counties.

In 1996 Y-W Electric was awarded a $ 400,000 Economic Development Grant      to establish a $ 480,000 revolving loan fund. The initial loan was to the      city of Akron to help with the financing of a modern, municipal water      system. A subsequent loan from the fund was made to KF Printing in the      amount of $ 35,000 to fund the start-up of a full service print shop      desperately needed by the business community.
**Kansas
Heartland Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc. was formed by the      1997 consolidation of Sekan Electric Cooperative, of Girard, and United      Electric Cooperative, of Iola. This consolidation created the third      largest electric cooperative in the State of Kansas serving more than      10,000 customers with 2,400 miles of line in Southeast Kansas.

In 1997 USDA awarded a Rural Economic      Development Loan in the amount of $ 400,000 to Heartland Electric      Cooperative. Heartland Electric re-loaned the money to finance a business      expansion for Debrick Truck Line Company of Paola, Kansas. Debrick Truck      Line Company operates 70 tractors and 100 trailer throughout 48 states and      Canadian provinces. They used the loan funds to create 10 new jobs and 20      new owner operator positions.

Heartland Electric provided the necessary infrastructure upgrade and      rate development to ensure the relocation of Tower Metals to Linn County,      Kansas. The new facility, employing 15 people, consisted of an 85,000      square feet building to house the equipment used to process aluminum      metals. According to Dennis Arnold, Economic Development Coordinator for      Linn County, "Utility rates were definitely a deal maker or      breaker."
**NCK Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NCK) of Belleville provides electric      service to 3,000 customers in north central Kansas. In conjunction with      Kansas Electric Power Cooperative of Topeka and Gerard Tank and Steel      Company, NCK Electric applied and was awarded a $ 200,000, zero-interest,      USDA Rural Economic Development Loan to help finance a 17,000 square foot      expansion of Gerard Tank and Steel. The expansion project will add 10 more jobs and provide the capacity to increase production.
**Michigan
Midwest Energy Cooperative is the parent company of Fruit Belt      Electric and Southeastern Energy with offices in Adrian, Cassopolis, and      Paw Paw, Michigan. The Midwest Energy provides electricity, propane,      electrician services, and an assortment of other energy related services to      31,000 customers in Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

Midwest Energy established the Fruit Belt Commerce Park in Paw Paw,      Michigan, less than a mile from the busy interchange of I-94 and M-40. The      commerce park features all amenities offering reasonably priced industrial      building sites ranging in size from 3 to 5 acres. The park current      claims Fruit Belt Electric Services and Great Lakes Belting Company as      tenants.

Midwest Energy has also established a new electrical services company based in      Paw Paw, Michigan. The new company will perform work for all types of      electric wiring installations, whether it is small residential, large      commercial or industrial. The new business will also install electric      surge suppressors, stand-by generators, and special sub-metering systems      for the Midwest Energy's "Dual Source" and "Comfort Saver" HVAC      programs.
**Mississippi
Natchez Trace Electric Power Association (NTEPA) provides      electric service to more than 15,000 customers in, Calhoun, Chickasaw,      Clay, Grenada, Pontotoc, Webster, and Yalobusha Counties.

Natchez Trace has had a long history of community development activity.      One recent project was highlighted by the volunteer effort provided by      NTEPA employees for the installation of poles, wiring and lighting for the      renovation of the Houston High School Baseball Field. NTEPA provides the      employees the equipment (bucket trucks, diggers, etc.) to do this work      during non-work hours. The project also received a $ 4,000 donation from      Tennessee Valley Authority. A second employee volunteer labor project was the building of      "Kids Park" in Houston where 114 holes for wood poles were dug      for this $ 95,000 project.

NTEPA worked closely with the Houston Public School System and the      local cable TV company to bring high speed internet access to the school      system. NTEPA collaborated with the cable company on pole      clearance and attachments in an effort to move the project along as      quickly as possible.
**Missouri
Crawford Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CEC) of Bourbon      provides service to 1,561 meters using 471 miles of line in Washington      County. CEC was at the forefront of efforts to establish additional      National Weather Service NOAA weather radio sites to protect area      residents from dangerous weather conditions. CEC joined with      three other cooperatives in the area to fully fund the purchase of radio      transmitters, identify towers for use as transmitter sites and provide      electricity for this 24-hour service at a total project cost of      $ 100,000.      These additional transmitter sites will provide coverage for 15 counties.      Also, the co-ops have purchased more than 100 weather radios for donation      to public facilities and organizations such as schools, churches,      hospitals, nursing homes, organizations, and agencies.

Employees of CEC are also very active in      community development. They raised $ 4,650 in the local Relay for Life      and American Cancer Society events. The co-op crew was one of 37 teams that      raised a total of $ 71,000 in the Sullivan, Missouri area - the highest      first year total ever in the state. The employees also supported      charitable causes by sponsoring a charity golf tournament that raised $      3,650 and raised another $ 1,000 by offering hot air balloon rides, pony      rides, and the selling of kettle corn.
**Farmers Electric Cooperative, Inc. (FEC) in Chillicothe provides      electric service to 11,800 meters customers in nine counties of north      central Missouri. Following many years of flooding along the Grand River,      the city of Pattonsburg, with the assistance of the state and federal      government, was moved to higher ground in an effort to eliminating the      flooding threat for residents. FEC constructed a      complete underground distribution facility in the "new" city      improving electric reliability and safety. FEC is      investing more than $ 400,000 in this project.

FEC, through its subsidiary Rural America Service Company (RASCO),      purchased 176 acres at Chillicothe in Livingston County. The land has been      developed into a full service industrial park, Chillicothe Area      Industrial Park, with water, sewer, electric, natural gas, and street      access. RASCO combined their project investment of more than      $ 1 million with federal and state economic development grants      to fund the development of the park's infrastructure. The city of      Chillicothe provided the matching funds to obtain the grants.

RASCO purchased 120 acres at Gallatin, Daviess County to develop a      second industrial park. RASCO purchased the land for $ 225,000 and has      joined forces with the city of Gallatin to develop the infrastructure.      These two industrial parks have provided the jump-start for companies to      bring 400 new jobs to the area.

FEC has founded the Farmers Electric Area Youth Benefit Fund as a      501(c) 3 organization. The purpose of the fund is to provide financial      assistance toward the payment of medical bills of the area's children 18      years of age and under who are seriously ill or who have sustained severe      injuries. Over $ 121,000 has been dispersed to area families to cover      medical expenses.
**Sac Osage Electric Cooperative, Inc. located in El Dorado      Springs, Missouri, provides electric service to 8,800 customers in parts of      nine counties. Sac Osage Electric was awarded a $ 2,180,000 RUS loan in 1998      for distribution / transmission plant upgrades and line extensions.

Sac Osage Electric has instituted an economic development revolving loan      fund with the help of the Rural Economic Development Grant Program. The      initial grant of $ 400,000 was loaned at a zero percent interest rate to      Cedar County Memorial Hospital to renovate the existing emergency room      trauma area and add 3,100 square feet of space to be used as exam rooms,      waiting areas, a communication room, and drive-through receiving area for      ambulances. Recently an additional $ 100,000 was loaned to the hospital to      make improvements in the patient shower and bathing area.

As these loans are being repaid, Sac Osage Electric has provided      additional funding for several projects in the rural area. They include:
- $ 7,000 to Jerico Springs Fire Protection District for improvements          to the fire station;
- $ 8,000 to the Caplinger Mills Fire Department for a building          addition and improvements to their facility;
- $ 25,000 to Chapel Hills Volunteer Fire Department to help fund the          purchase of a pumper truck; and,
- $ 10,871 to Kottwitz Feed and Fertilizer store in Osceola for          business expansion.
**Nebraska
Midwest Electric Cooperative Corporation of Grant, Nebraska,      received a RUS loan of $ 2,700,000 in June of 1998 to upgrade utility      plant and extend line to new customers.

Midwest Electric is involved in numerous community and economic      development projects through active business participation, capital      funding, and encouraging employee volunteer efforts. They include:
- Funds To Help Wallace Grow - Dreaming of a brighter future, citizens          of Wallace began a goal setting process in 1994 by hosting a town hall          meeting. Building on a recently completed renovation of the municipal          airport, which included re-grading and paving the runway surface and          lighting the field, the community worked with Midwest Electric to enlist help on their economic development          efforts. Midwest Electric was able to secure a $225,000, zero percent interest loan for          the infrastructure improvements in Wallace.
- Wallace Youth Corporation - Formation of a tax exempt corporation with          the immediate goal of developing a new baseball and softball complex.          Complex was completed within the first year.
- Library and Medical Clinic Created in 1995. Local church donated the          building, volunteers cleaned the building, the school shop class built          shelves, and the art class painted the front door. Once finished the          community donated over 2000 books.
- In 1996 a Medical Clinic was established in the library basement.
- Fire Protection/Public Safety - In 1996 Rural and Village Fire          Districts reorganized. A new pumper was purchased, a new building was          completed, and a new ambulance purchased.
**North Carolina
Energy United - Energy United was created by the      consolidation of the former Davidson and Crescent electric membership      corporations. The co-op furnishes electricity to more than 93,000      customers in parts of 19 counties; Alexander, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba,      Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg,      Montgomery, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stokes, Wilkes, and Yadkin. Energy      United has offices in Statesville, Lexington, Taylorsville, Denton,      Madison, Cornelius, and Mocksville.

Energy United is building a 100,000 square foot shell building located      in the Lexington Business Center for new and expanding industry. The all      masonry building, located on a 20-acre site, will include such amenities      as 24-foot ceilings, 4 truck loading docks, parking and pre-graded      100,000 square foot expansion area.

In 1998 the Alexander County Water Corporation voted to enter a      management agreement with Energy United. Energy United Water was formed      and now serves 3,500 customers in Alexander and Iredell counties. Recently      a new 12-inch, 2 mile waterline was added to the system to provide for 1      million gallons of clean water per day to the area. The project cost was      $325,000.

Energy United regularly contributes to capital campaigns to fulfill      their mission of helping develop the communities they serve. Recently they contributed $45,000 to county YMCA organizations in Alexander, Davie,      and West Rowan counties.

In a joint effort with North Carolina's electric cooperatives, Energy      United has supported the "Bright Ideas" program. This program      awards grants to help fund instructional projects that could not be funded      from regular sources. Since 1994 Energy United has provided more than $      152,000 to fund 173 projects, enriching the educational experiences of      more than 50,000 students.
**Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation (REMC)was awarded a      $10,570,000 in 1999 to upgrade existing facilities and extend electric      service to western North Carolina. REMC serves more than 51,000      member-consumers.

REMC is committed to providing a brighter tomorrow for rural      North Carolina. To this end REMC along with the North Carolina Membership      Corporation made a $ 15,000 Economic Development Grant to assist in the attraction and      construction of a $ 7.5 million Gold Medal Homes Plant (R&L Homes) in Gaston County.      This facility, located on a 121-acre site, will produce 40 new homes      per week with 450-500 employees. Recently, REMC committed to a zero percent    interest,    5 year loan to assist Sentrol Controls Group with their      new facility being built in Lincoln County. One hundred new jobs will be created      with the opening of this new facility.

Since the Bright Ideas � Grant Program began in 1994, North Carolina's      electric cooperatives have awarded close to $1.5 million to underwrite      nearly 1,800 instructional projects that otherwise could not have been      afforded by the local school districts. These projects have benefited more      than 500,000 students throughout the state. REMC has awarded $      76,000 to support 129 projects in their service territory impacting      approximately 26,000. Individual or team projects are eligible for grants      up to $ 2,000.

In the fall of 1997, REMC became involved in the "McGruff      Truck Program." REMC teamed with McGruff, the crime dog, to help      safeguard children and adults throughout rural, western North Carolina.      REMC is the first cooperative in North Carolina to participate in the      nationwide program. All cooperative vehicles equipped with a two-way radio      are clearly marked with a McGruff sticker. The friendly REMC logo along      with McGruff identifies these vehicles to children and adults as vehicles      they can go to in an emergency. Entry level classes at each elementary      school in REMC's territory are visited to teach the children what to do in      case of an emergency and "take a bite out of crime."
**Ohio
Consolidated Electric Cooperative was awarded a RUS loan of $      12,123,000 to upgrade existing facilities and extend electric service to      rural residents in Delaware, Franklin, Knox, Licking, Marion, Morrow,      Richland, and Union counties of north central Ohio. From its headquarters near Mt. Gilead, and the district      office in Delaware, Consolidated Electric provides electric energy to more      than 13,000 homes and businesses. Consolidated Electric was established      July 1, 1996, as the culmination of merger discussions between Delaware      Rural Electric Cooperative and Morrow Electric Cooperative.

With two wholly owned subsidiaries, Bright Choice, Inc. and Bright      Energy, Inc., Consolidated Electric continues to diversify in an effort to      thrive and prosper in a deregulated utility environment. Bright Choice      currently offers the Bright.net Internet service, satellite television      programming, and emergency response telephone and security systems. With      more than 8,000 customers, Bright Choice is opening a new store at the      Richland Mall in Ontario to provide greater accessibility to customers.      While the new store will focus on Bright Choice�s Bright.net Internet      service, customers will also be able to conduct most of their Consolidated      Electric business at the store.

Through Bright Energy, established in late 1997, Consolidated Electric made      natural gas service available for the first time ever in parts of the      rural service area. The first natural gas customers came on line in August      1998, including Northmor High School. Bright Energy is currently looking      at expanding natural gas service to several other communities in the      service area. With the success of the "Bright" family of      services, Consolidated Electric will continue to investigate the      possibility of offering other services and products in the future to benefit the customers.

Economic Development - Consolidated Electric provides electric power to      two interchanges along Interstate-71 at State Routes 61 and 95. In the      past few years, Consolidated Electric was helpful in bringing conditioned water to      both interchanges with the establishment of a rural water system. Today,      these interchanges are poised for commercial and industrial growth, with      industrial parks and other development projects in various stages at both      locations.

In 1998, Consolidated Electric received a $330,000 grant from the USDA to establish a revolving rural development loan      fund. Consolidated contributed $ 66,000 to the fund. The first project      financed through the revolving loan fund, SoMoCo - a $ 2.4 million dollar      wastewater and sewage treatment facility at the Interstate-71/State Route      61 interchange, is nearing completion. With the necessary infrastructure      in place at this interchange � electricity, gas, water and sewage �      several major projects have been announced including the construction of a      new 100-resident nursing home facility, the Morning View Care Center.

Consolidated Electric has purchased Levering Brothers      Plumbing and Heating, Inc. located near Cardington. The heating, air      conditioning, and plumbing business compliments the Cooperative�s      business activities and the intent is to keep the business in the rural      service area. Consolidated Electric is also interested in business expansion providing      even more services to its customers. It will be operated as a wholly owned      but separate subsidiary of the Co-op.
**Oklahoma
Harmon Electric Association is headquartered in Hollis,      Oklahoma, with service territory in far southwest Oklahoma and in      northwest Texas. Harmon serves approximately 3,200 consumers with over      1,810 miles of distribution line.

Harmon Electric entered into an operations and maintenance agreement      with the small municipal electric utility of Olustee. With only 300 meters,      the city found it very difficult to afford the services of a full time      line employee. Harmon Electric now performs full operations and      maintenance functions      providing a cost effective way for the city to provide service.

The Hester Water Corporation is a small water distribution system      southeast of Mangum, Oklahoma and was formed in 1970. In 1991 Hester Water founders expressed concern over the      future economic operation of the      company. Following approval by the boards of Harmon Electric and Hester      Water of the appropriate legal work, the Hester Water Corporation      became part of Harmon Electric. The water customers were provided with      improved 24-hour call-in service. In early 1999 a $ 282,000 water line      extension project added 14 additional miles to the system bringing potable      water to 50 cooperative members.

In 1992 Harmon Electric was approached by a group of individuals in the      southern part of Harmon's service territory who indicated that the water      in their area was so bad that the cattle would not drink it and asked for      help. Unable to extend the current water system to this area, Harmon      Electric helped establish the "CRETA Water Corporation" and      contributed engineering and legal support for the effort. Today CRETA serves more than 400 meters with 140 miles of water line at a      total project cost of $ 3.2 million. Harmon Electric currently      provides administration and operation services enabling the new water      district to keep its costs down to the customers. Having potable water in      this area has served to boost new services in Harmon's service territory. A      win-win situation for all involved.

In 1998 the City of Mangum was in the process of trying to attract a      major corporation to the area. One of the requirements made prior to the      corporation's relocation was the need for the city's airport to be upgraded.      Unfortunately, the city was unable to secure the matching funds necessary      to apply for a federal matching grant. It so happened that part of the FAA      requirement in the airport upgrade was the necessity for Harmon Electric      to relocate distribution lines at both ends of the airport. Mangum was      able to leverage the $ 32,000 investment made by Harmon Electric to      obtain the grant funds to complete the project.
**South Carolina
Fairfield Electric Cooperative of Winnsboro provides electric      service to Fairfield, Richland, Kershaw, and Chester counties. The      Fairfield Electric is      very active in a number of community development activities including:
- Provided a $ 100,000 grant to the town of Blythewood supporting the          effort to bring water to the residents. The development of this water          system has opened the area up to development that includes two motels,          a residential golf community with 500 homes, and other commercial          accounts .
- Partnering effort with Kershaw County to develop a 300-acre          industrial park. The first tenant was signed in 1999 with expected          first phase employment of 150.
**South Dakota
Northern Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEC)located in Bath, South      Dakota, provides electric service to more than 5,200 meters using over      3,000 miles of distribution line. NEC received a $5,657,000 RUS loan in      1998 to upgrade existing facilities and extend service to new customers.

NEC is very active in economic development      activity in their area. They have taken leadership roles in a number of      projects that have directly improved the quality of life in South Dakota.

NEC created a subsidiary, Northern Rural Cable TV      Cooperative, Inc. (NRCTV), to launch the nation's first rural cooperative      "wireless cable" TV system. Additionally in the      telecommunications field, NEC teamed with James Valley Cooperative      Telephone Company to form North Valley Communications, LLC. This joint      effort enabled the Co-op to install and share an Internet server in James      Valley's telephone switch office providing the means to become a wide-area      local exchange internet service provider. The new company provides Internet access to      cooperative members and non-members within all 14 local telephone      exchanges. Northern Valley provides free Internet service to all schools      in the NEC's territories.

NEC helped to finance and build the North Central Area Interconnect (NCAI),      an eight school district, fully interactive distance learning system. The      Co-op acquired a $ 100,000 RUS zero interest loan and a      $ 500,000 Distance Learning and Medical Link Grant for the project.      This system helps to provide a quality education for the children in the      local communities, stems outmigration, along with preserving and enhancing      the service area's growth opportunities.

NEC also spearheaded the effort to build a 160-acre industrial park      through the use of a Rural Economic Development Loan. NRCTV contributed to      this effort by wiring fiber optic cable throughout the park and to every      building in 1997. The "smart park" currently has four industries      operating and also includes a "smart center" with offices,      videoconference center, and business incubator.
**Tennessee
Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative provides electric      service to approximately 35,000 meters in four main counties and in parts      of the surrounding four counties. In 1998 Sequachee Valley Electric      Cooperative received a $      3,958,000 RUS loan to extend and upgrade service to the 1,550 square mile      service territory in the mountains of east Tennessee. Although this      service territory is adjacent to a metropolitan area, it is still      essentially rural in nature. The population of the areas largest      incorporated city is just over 3,000, with the smallest of the remaining      cities totaling 150 residents.

 Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative has taken a leadership role in economic / community      development. For example; when the firm managing the hospital in Sequachee      County announced that is was closing the hospital, Sequachee Valley      Electric Cooperative immediately began      working with the County Executive to secure zero-interest loan funds to      help the county build a new state-of-the-art emergency medical facility. A      $ 400,000 Rural Economic Development Loan made it possible for the county      to finance the construction of the much-needed facility. The existence of      this medical center is a key component to the community infrastructure,      which has helped to attract several new manufacturing plants to the area.

 Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative has also received two grant awards totaling $      530,000. The establishment of a revolving loan fund has helped enable a      regional human resource agency serving 10 rural counties to build a modern      office and garage facility. The fund also was used to benefit five school      districts. The grant funds plus matching money from the cooperative enabled the      school districts to buy needed equipment and build facilities.

 Sequachee Valley Electric Cooperative is also playing a major role in economic development by purchasing      land and working with city and county officials to provide the necessary      infrastructure to develop this resource into an industrial park.
**Texas
Johnson County Electric Cooperative (JCEC) in Cleburne provides      electric service to more than 35,000 consumers in six Texas counties;      Bosque, Ellis, Hood, Johnson, Somervell, and Tarrant. In 1997 JCEC was      awarded a $ 15 million loan guarantee to extend and upgrade electric      service in their service territory.

JCEC has been involved in two major community development projects. The      first being the city of Venus. JCEC loaned the city the necessary funds      (approximately $337,000) to expand its water and sewer facilities to      accommodate a prison expansion project. Future uses of this revolving loan      fund, after receiving payments from the Venus (currently $48,000),      will be available to qualified applicants for the following uses: promote      rural economic development, promote job creation projects, promote job      retention projects, promote community development projects which provide      needed community facilities and/or services; and to promote      telecommunication/computer enhancements for education or medical services.      The city of Venus is currently making annual payments to JCEC.

The second project is C & W Manufacturing. JCEC loaned C&W      $ 80,000 for 19,100 s.f. manufacturing, office and painting      facilities for C & W Mfg. and Sales. Another      financial institution loaned the business owner an additional $220,000 to      complete the project.

Future development of this 30+-acre area will include an industrial      park and this in turn creates demand for new homes in the same area. It      also improves the access to the highway as more people travel and an      improved employee base by the more central location, and the increase in      the tax base for all taxing entities. This expansion is expected to create      25 jobs.

Scholarship Program -

Another huge project that focuses on community development is the      unclaimed patronage capital scholarship program. JCEC distributed $60,000      in 1998 and $61,000 in 1999 for college scholarships. The Co-op      distributes $1,000 awards to members or children of the members who are      enrolled in college courses. JCEC has awarded 121 scholarships to students      in an effort to help them pursue higher education goals. The scholarship      is based (60 percent) on financial need and (40 percent) on leadership/community      involvement activities. The FY 2000 budget includes $62,000 for the      scholarship program.
**Medina Electric Cooperative, Inc. (MEC) in Hondo provides service to      13,527 members with 25,573 meter connections throughout a 12,000      square-mile region in the Texas counties of Atascosa, Brooks, Dimmitt,      Duval, Edwards, Frio, Jim Hogg, Kinney, LaSalle, McMullen, Medina, Real,      Starr, Uvalde, Webb, Zapata, and Zavala. Service is provided through 8,083      miles of overhead and 22 miles of underground electric distribution line      and 563 miles of transmission lines. In November 1998 the MEC was awarded      a $ 10,670,000 RUS loan to provide new services along with upgrading      and rebuilding existing distribution and transmission facilities.

In 1999, MEC worked with Frio Hospital      Association in an effort to encourage growth in the 112-acre industrial      park located just west of Pearsall, Texas. MEC provided the hospital      with a $ 47,600 construction allowance and a 3-year economic      development rate to enable the construction of a new facility. The new      45,000 square foot hospital will provide 24 beds along with inpatient and      outpatient services and emergency room care. An additional 30 employees      will be hired bringing the total hospital employment to 120. The new      facility is scheduled for completion in July 2000.
**Nueces Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NEC)is located in Robstown and      provides electric service to 11,500 meters in the south Texas counties of Nueces, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Duval, Live Oak, McMullen,      and Brooks. NEC was awarded a $ 4,340,000 hardship rate loan in 1998 to      finance the construction of new facilities and to upgrade existing      electric distribution facilities.

NEC has won two Enterprise Awards from the      Community Service Network of the National Rural Electric Cooperative      Association (NRECA). The NRECA Community Service Network Awards recognizes      community service and electric cooperative grassroots advocacy, notably      creative solutions to a divers array of community needs. NEC was honored      from among more than 1,000 electric cooperatives nationwide.

In December 1994, HALO-Flight Helicopter Ambulance Service became short      of funding due to cutbacks in Medicare and Medicaid. The loss of this      service meant that citizens in the rural counties surrounding Corpus      Christi could possibly wait up to 1-1/2 hours for ambulance      service as compared to the 20-30 minutes service provided by the      HALO-Flight Helicopter Ambulance Service. Such a long delay in emergency medical attention      severely threatened the survival rate of rural residents.

Upon hearing of this need, the Board of Directors of NEC mailed the      Co-op members special election ballots to amend the Articles of      Incorporation to form "Nueces Charities". The overwhelming      support of 85 percent of the members voting spurred NEC to form a separate      corporation to manage the monies collected by "rounding up" a      customer's bill to the next whole dollar. On hundred percent of the "rounded      up" portion of the bill was donated to Nueces Charities.

More than 20 percent of the Co-op members participate in the "round      up" program raising over $ 14,700 annually in support of the      Helicopter Ambulance Service. This permanent source of funding provides      the foundation for HALO-Flight Ambulance Service to continue service to rural Texas.

NEC was also honored for promoting electrical safety among area school      children. Since its inception in 1996, the NEC electrical safety program      has reached more than 900 children and adults.

     Last updated 07/02/2000
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