USDA Rural Development and Carroll EMC Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Rural Electrification Act

(Carrollton, Ga., May 20, 2026) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Georgia State Director Joyce White today presented a $58.6 million ceremonial check to Carroll Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) to expand rural electric service. The celebration takes place during Infrastructure Week and on the 90th Anniversary of the day that the Rural Electrification Act (REA) was enacted.

"During Infrastructure week and every week the USDA strengthens rural communities by funding critical projects, including clean drinking water, electricity, and high-speed internet," said White, "Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, USDA Rural Development is proud to be a partner to EMC across rural Georgia as they continue providing reliable electricity to rural and sometimes sparsely populated areas."

The Rural Electrification Act of 1936, promoted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, fundamentally transformed rural America by providing federal loans to establish electric cooperatives, raising farm electrification from 3% to over 90% by the early 1950s. Administered today by the USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Service (RUS), these programs help expand economic opportunities, reduce utility costs to consumers, and improve the quality of life for farmers, ranchers, and rural families.

This Rural Development investment for Carroll EMC will finance the construction of 187 miles of new consumer lines and 450 miles of line improvements to connect 4,300 new consumers in west Georgia. The $58,652,000 loan supports Carroll EMC's long-range priorities of system reliability, consumer growth, and infrastructure modernization. The project will achieve consumer growth and infrastructure modernization and is funded through USDA's Electric Infrastructure Loan Program.

"Carroll EMC is thankful for the funding available through the USDA and RUS to help our members have the most modern, reliable electric service possible," said Carroll EMC CEO Tim Martin. "This money helps our cooperative grow and enhance our system throughout the seven counties that we serve in west Georgia."

Since the REA was enacted, Georgia continues to be one of the largest users of RUS loans, leading to growth throughout the state.

"In large part thanks to the support of USDA and the Rural Electrification Administration, Georgia's EMCs have grown from a mechanism to bring light to rural farmland and towns 90 years ago to becoming true partners in progress," said Georgia EMC President/CEO Dennis Chastain. "Today, Georgia's 41 EMCs serve more than 5 million Georgians and power 73% of the state's land area, ensuring the communities they serve thrive by supporting schools, fostering economic development and championing growth. The continued availability of funds from UDSA, now administered by RUS, allows progress to continue, as EMCs work to meet the evolving electricity needs of Georgians for many years to come."

USDA Rural Development's Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program makes insured loans and loan guarantees to nonprofit and cooperative associations, public bodies, and other utilities. Insured loans primarily finance the construction of electric distribution facilities in rural areas. The guaranteed loan program has been expanded and is now available to finance generation, transmission, and distribution facilities. The loans and loan guarantees finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission, and generation facilities, including system improvements and upgrades required to provide and improve electric service in rural areas.

About USDA:

USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and transportation infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov .

About Carroll EMC:

Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 56,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk, Floyd and Troup counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information, visit the cooperative's website at www.carrollemc.com ; Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.

About Georgia EMC:

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state's 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia's customer-owned co-ops provide electricity and related services to 5 million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73% of the state's land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com .