Roxboro, NC (Nov. 23, 2020) – Allensville Volunteer Fire Department received a $200,000 zero-interest loan to help pay for their new pumper tanker. Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation is playing a supporting role in the purchase of the new fire truck by facilitating a loan funded from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.
The Allensville Volunteer Fire Department’s 2010 International tanker has a larger, 1,250 gpm pump and three retractable discharge chutes that allow for easier water access. This 3,000-gallon tanker will replace their 1989 Freightliner tanker and will better assist in emergency response thanks to its improved safety elements.
“It has a total of three retractable chutes, one on each side and one in the rear that can be operated from inside the cab to keep someone from having to get in and out of the track,” explained Chief Gary Deitz. “This, along with the newer safety features, makes this truck safer for the members operating it.”
The addition of this new truck will aid the Allensville Volunteer Fire Department in their goal of lowering their 9E Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating. A lower ISO rating would result in lower homeowner insurance rates in the area. After the rating inspection is completed in mid-2021, residents will need to start contacting their insurance companies see if the pumper tanker will give them lower homeowners insurance rates.
The Allensville Volunteer Fire Department protects 900 homes and a handful of small businesses and churches throughout their six-mile fire district, in addition to providing mutual aid to other fire departments in Person and Granville county. The department’s 28 volunteer firefighters respond to an average of 175 emergency calls each year.
“We’re proud to be able to support the Allensville Volunteer Fire Department in their mission to serve and protect,” said Steve Hamlin, Piedmont Electric President and CEO. “Facilitating this zero-interest USDA REDLG loan is a unique way that our cooperative can improve the quality of life in one of our communities.”
The funds for this zero-interest loan came from the revolving loan fund created from repaid USDA REDLG loans facilitated by Piedmont Electric. Payments from organizations who have received REDLG loans managed by Piedmont Electric in the past are placed into this revolving loan fund which allows these federal funds to be re-loaned in the local communities.
In the past several years, Piedmont Electric has secured more than $13 million in USDA funding within Person, Caswell, Alamance, Durham, Granville and Orange counties for fire trucks, fire stations, ambulances, schools, a public library and a Habitat for Humanity warehouse. As the funds are repaid, they are re-loaned to assist with future projects in communities served by Piedmont Electric.
Piedmont Electric is a local, member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving more than 33,000 electric accounts in Person, Alamance, Caswell, Durham, Granville and Orange counties. Piedmont Electric exists to serve our members and improve the quality of life in our communities through local employment, economic development, business engagement, youth education, grants to educators, advocacy for energy issues, community involvement, broadband connectivity and emergency preparedness support. Visit www.pemc.coop for more information.
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