State Director for Rural Development Edd Hargett today announced that USDA is investing $7 million in Texas to build and improve rural electric infrastructure.
“Reliable and affordable electricity is vital to rural Texans,” Hargett said. “This funding to Bartlett Electric Cooperative will improve the efficiency of this essential service.”
Bartlett Electric Cooperative is receiving a $7 million loan to install 212 miles of fiber cable for smart grid technologies to improve system efficiencies and reliability. Bartlett Electric Cooperative is located just northeast of Austin. Its 936-square-mile service area includes more than 11,900 customers and about 1,709 miles of line. USDA is providing financing through the Electric Loan Program.
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 take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view 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 view 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.