You may not think twice when you stroll into work and flip on the light switch to start your day.
Your boss thinks about it more. So does everyone at your local electric cooperative.
Your energy needs are constantly at the forefront of our work. We make sure that everyone in the community — the families, farms, schools, and businesses on our lines — has the electricity they need to power their day. For many businesses, that is easier said than done. Agribusinesses, manufacturers, life-science facilities, offices, and more each have unique power needs.
Electric cooperatives support and foster economic development. This is engrained in our culture: we are consumer-owned organizations dedicated to serving our communities. We work with local officials to recruit and retain local businesses. Sometimes that includes companies moving to or opening a new local facility.
Yet most economic development comes from supporting key accounts, which are established local businesses in our communities. If local businesses are doing well, that means that the region’s economy, families, and other organizations benefit also. We regularly meet with business leaders to help them plan growth, address challenges, and provide support to meet their energy goals while minimizing costs.
After all, local businesses are the lifeblood of a community: they create jobs and contribute to the tax base. That, in turn, means continued growth and further investment in the vibrant communities where we live and work. Electric co-ops also partner with local and regional economic development officials to create incentive packages that help make Indiana towns and cities attractive for major investment, recruiting new businesses to the communities we serve.
We are committed to successful business recruitment and retention by supporting local corporations to thrive. This is just one way that electric cooperatives embody the cooperative principles and invest in the communities we serve.
Brian Hawk is the energy advisor at Noble REMC in Albion, Indiana.
