HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2026) — Piedmont Electric Cooperative is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to highlight new investments that will help two local volunteer fire departments upgrade critical emergency response equipment through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department in Granville County and Prospect Hill Volunteer Fire Department in Caswell County have been approved for USDA REDLG loans to help finance new fire engines that will enhance safety for the communities they serve.
Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department has been approved for a $400,000 USDA REDLG loan toward a new fire engine with a total project investment of $598,670. In response to growth in Granville County and increasing call volumes, the county has approved the department hiring additional part-time staff and the new engine will support that expanded capacity.
The department is purchasing a new pumper-tanker truck that will carry 1,800 gallons of water and feature a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump, allowing it to function as both a pumper and a tanker. The truck will replace a 1997 pumper and represent a significant upgrade to the fleet.
“The new truck will include a larger pump, more hose connection points, greater pumping capacity, a drop tank and additional ladders and hose, giving Cornwall greater capability to respond to larger and more complex incidents” Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lee Blackwell said. “As more residents build larger homes in rural areas of the district, the department’s response needs are changing, and this new apparatus will help firefighters operate more safely and effectively.”
Prospect Hill Volunteer Fire Department has been approved for a $457,000 USDA REDLG loan toward a new fire engine with a total project investment of $572,206. The new pumper-rescue truck will replace older equipment that is nearing the end of its useful life and may no longer be serviceable in the event of a major mechanical failure.
The department serves N.C. Highway 86, a direct route to the new casino in Danville, Va. and has seen increased traffic and crashes along this corridor since the casino opened. Prospect Hill also serves an area experiencing rapid residential growth, increasing the need for a fully equipped fire and rescue apparatus.
“The new truck has improved on-scene lighting, new tools and National Fire Protection Association-compliant striping and lighting which will help keep our firefighters safer on busy roads and at incident scenes,” Chief Johnny Wright of Prospect Hill Volunteer Fire Department said. This investment will help the department better protect both residents and travelers in its growing service territory.
Through the USDA REDLG program, local electric cooperatives such as Piedmont Electric apply for zero-interest loans, which are then re-lent to local organizations to support projects that create and retain jobs and strengthen rural communities. “The projects at Cornwall and Prospect Hill volunteer fire departments are the latest examples of how this partnership helps bring investments in safety and infrastructure to the cooperative’s service area,” said Jordan Overbee, president and general manager of Piedmont Electric.
Piedmont Electric is a local, member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative serving more than 34,000 electric accounts in Alamance, Caswell, 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.