USDA Loans $134M to Rural Electric Projects in Arkansas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Monday announced $134 million in loans for three projects to expand rural electric infrastructure in Arkansas.

The projects and loan amounts are:

• Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative Corp. of Ozark received $50 million to connect 4,923 consumers and build and improve 360 miles of power lines. The loan includes $1.6 million smart grid technologies. 
• C & L Electric Cooperative Corp. of Star City received $42.2 million to connect 2,964 consumers and build and improve 331 miles of power lines. The loan includes various smart grid projects in the amount of $11.5 million, including the installation of 273 miles of fiber cable for the backbone communications network. 
• Woodruff Electric Cooperative Corp. of Forrest City received $42 million to connect 1,479 consumers and build and improve 145 miles of power lines. The loan includes various smart grid projects in the amount of $19.1 million including the installation of 458.23 miles of backbone fiber to bring fiber communication to all its district offices.

The loans are a portion of $2.7 billion that the USDA is investing in 64 rural electric projects across the country. Funding will benefit nearly 2 million people and businesses in 26 states. Nearly half of the awards will help finance infrastructure improvements in underserved communities.

More: See the full list of projects here.

“These critical investments will benefit rural people and businesses in many ways for decades to come,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “This funding will help rural cooperatives and utilities invest in changes that make our energy more efficient, more reliable, and more affordable. Investing in infrastructure – roads, bridges, broadband and energy – supports good-paying jobs and keeps the United States poised to lead the global economy.”