Congresswoman Miller Announces U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Investment in Monroe County

Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) announced today a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development investment loan to Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative in Monroe County. The investment will build and improve 37 miles of line and invest $2.2 million in smart grid technologies.

"I am pleased to see this Rural Development investment in Monroe County. This is a huge step towards building up our infrastructure, diversifying our economy, and connecting our state. I am excited to see the effects this will have on our community in the coming years," said Congresswoman Miller.

This USDA investment is part of a greater investment that will benefit 17 states. In April 2017, President Donald 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 Sonny Perdue presented the Task Force's findings to the President. The findings included 31 recommendations including one in Monroe County, West Virginia.

Acting Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development, Joel Baxley said, "Investing in our nation's electric infrastructure powers our economy, creates jobs and helps deliver services such as education, training and health care to build stronger rural communities. These loans will help rural electric cooperatives generate and distribute power to keep systems reliable and affordable for those who live and work in rural areas."

Craig-Botetourt Electric Cooperative serves more than 7,100 residential and commercial customers over 1,387 miles of line in six counties in western Virginia and Monroe County in West Virginia.