Yanceyville, NC (May 1, 2019) – The Gunn Memorial Public Library received a $995,000 zero-interest loan to help pay for their building expansion and renovation. Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation is playing a supporting role by facilitating this loan funded from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.
The Gunn Memorial Public Library expansion and renovation will provide increased resources and educational opportunities for every citizen in Caswell County.
“The library contributes to economic development in the county by helping job applicants build resumes and grow a competitive workforce,” said Rhonda Griffin, Caswell County Public Library Director. “The expansion also allows for increased educational opportunities for our students with STEM labs, tutoring and after school activities.”
The funds to assist with the library expansion and renovation came from the USDA REDLG program facilitated by Piedmont Electric. The program provides zero-interest funds from the federal government to local electric cooperatives who in turn lend the money to local entities for projects that support rural areas.
“We are proud to support a community in which we serve and help the Caswell County Public Library fund their expansion,” said Steve Hamlin, Piedmont Electric President and CEO. “Education and supporting our community are two of our seven guiding principles that we have followed since we were founded over 80 years ago. Working with the library gives us a unique opportunity to invest in our students’ education and the county’s economic development.”
In the past several years, Piedmont Electric has secured more than $12 million in USDA funding within Caswell, Alamance, Durham, Orange and Person counties for fire trucks, fire stations, ambulances, schools and the Caswell County Public Library. 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 32,000 electric accounts in Caswell, Alamance, Durham, Granville, Orange and Person 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 and emergency preparedness support. Visit www.pemc.coop for more information.
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Photo caption: Caswell County Public Library Director Rhonda Griffin, Caswell County Manager Bryan Miller and representatives of Piedmont Electric gather at the Gunn Memorial Public Library ribbon cutting ceremony and celebrate the closing of $995,000 in zero-interest loans that helped pay for the library expansion and renovation.
Attendees in photo from left to right:
Bill Barber – Piedmont Electric Board of Directors
Sam Woods – Piedmont Electric Board of Directors
Paul Bailey – Piedmont Electric Board of Directors
Rhonda Griffin – Caswell County Public Library Director
Bryan Miller – Caswell County Manager
David Poythress – Piedmont Electric Board of Directors
Elizabeth Townsend – Piedmont Electric Board of Directors
Cy Vernon – Piedmont Electric Board of Directors