Rural Missouri - October 2016 - 4

RM | C O O P E R AT I O N Schroeder is new CEO at Macon Electric A Crawford Electric was honored by USDA Rural Development and East Central College for its role in helping the college land a zero-interest, $1 million loan to help fund a Business and Industrial Center. Shown here are, from left: East Central President Jon Bauer, USDA Rural Development Missouri Director Janie Dunning and Crawford Electric CEO Tony Mallory. Co-ops build Concern for community drives economic development efforts W hat could be more exciting than getting a zero-interest, $1 million loan? For Jon Bauer, president of East Central College, it's the opportunity to work with two new partners to train the next generation of workers at the campus in Union. In September, representatives from the college and USDA Rural Development gathered in what was once an event center to thank Crawford Electric Cooperative for its role in helping make the college's new Business and Industrial Center a reality. Earlier in 2016, the college learned it would receive the loan from the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program, or REDLG. This was the ﬁrst time the college has partnered with USDA Rural Development and one of Missouri's electric cooperatives. It was the latest successful partnership for the state's electric cooperatives, which according to U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Missouri Director Janie Dunning have been responsible for channeling more than $2 billion in economic development funds to the state through the REDLG program. It's one way the cooperatives carry out the seventh cooperative principle, "Concern for Community." The money was key in the college's acquisition of a former event center that will bring under one roof East Central's advanced manufacturing programs - which include Industrial Engineering Technology and Industrial Maintenance, Precision Machining and Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning/Refrigeration. East Central's Center for Workforce Development also will occupy the facility. "East Central College's project was a perfect partner for us to facilitate ﬁnancing through USDA," said Tony Mallory, Crawford Electric Cooperative's CEO/general manager, himself a graduate of the college. "As a rural electric co-op, we're well acquainted with the beneﬁts of working together to enhance the quality of life in our area. Our commitment to our wider community includes support for education and training that will spur economic development." Over the years, electric cooperatives have applied for money through the REDLG program for a number of worthy projects that have in turn built better communities. These have included: improvements to rural hospitals, expansion of factories, construction of spec buildings to attract new industry, sewer lines to an industrial park, a center for abused children and a new library. In 2008, Grundy Electric Cooperative used the REDLG program to provide $1.33 million in loans and grants for North Central Missouri Community College's Allied Health Complex. Helping rural communities kickstart their economies is just one way electric cooperatives show their concern for community. October is National Cooperative Month, which makes this a good time to focus on all that cooperatives do for their members and their communities. fter a nationwide search, the Macon Electric Cooperative Board of Directors has selected Todd Schroeder of Heber Springs, Ark., as its general manager. He replaces Don Hellwig, who has served as the interim general manager since January. Todd began his new role at Macon Electric in August. He comes to Macon from First Electric Cooperative in Jacksonville, Ark. At First Electric, he served as the district manager in Heber Springs since 2005. His cooperative career began in 1998 as a work-study student while completing his degree in Surveying and Land Information Systems from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. After graduating, he was promoted to surveyor, then district manager. In 2014, after 25 years of service, Schroeder retired from the Arkansas Army National Guard. He is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. About his service in the military, he says, "The military built the foundation of values and leadership that I use daily." Todd and his wife, Jamie, have been married 23 years. They have two sons: Mason and Max. Missouri's electric cooperatives welcome Todd to his new role and thank Don for his service. Todd Schroeder EDITORIAL STAFF: Jim McCarty, editor, jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop Heather Berry, associate editor, hberry@ruralmissouri.coop | Paul Newton, ﬁeld editor, pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop Megan Backes, designer, mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop | Angie Jones-Wheeler, co-op page designer Dusty Weter, co-op page designer ADVERTISING: Mary Davis, production manager, mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop "Devoted to the rural way of life" Rural Missouri is published monthly by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, Barry Hart, CEO/executive vice president. Individual subscription rate: $10 per year or $22 for three years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for members of participating RECs $1.98, plus taxes and postage. Delivery as speciﬁed by subscriber. If not speciﬁed, delivery will be by periodical class mail at subscriber's expense. Periodical Class postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing ofﬁces. Copyright 2016, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights. 4 RURAL MISSOURI | OCTOBER 2016 Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Rural Missouri. Advertising standards: Advertising published in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and sold to customers at the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri's electric cooperatives do not endorse any products or services advertised herein. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted by this publication. Editorial: Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-659-3423 | info@ruralmissouri.coop | www.ruralmissouri.coop Advertising: mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop | 573-659-3400 National Advertising Representative: National Country Market; 611 S. 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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - October 2016