In Columbus, Ohio, Project Ohio has received a $70,000 grant from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC) and the National Cooperative Services Corporation (NCSC). This funding aims to support international electrification efforts. In January, electric cooperatives from Ohio participated in their fifth trip to Guatemala under Project Ohio, an initiative dedicated to providing electricity to villages without power.
During a 17-day mission, 15 volunteer lineworkers from 10 different Ohio electric cooperatives successfully brought electricity for the first time to 93 homes in Barejones, a remote village located in the Jalapa region of Guatemala. The team installed primary and secondary conductors, set meter poles and pole-mounted lights, and performed in-home electrical work. They also built upon previous efforts by Oklahoma Electric Cooperatives to establish a distribution system for the village.
Craig Grooms, President and CEO of Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives (OEC), expressed gratitude for the support received: “We’re so grateful to be able to make such an impact on these communities. With the support of CFC and NCSC, we can continue to do so.”
Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives is a statewide association representing 25 electric cooperatives across Ohio. These cooperatives serve over 380,000 homes and businesses in 77 out of Ohio’s 88 counties. As not-for-profit entities owned by their members, they focus on providing reliable and affordable power while adhering to environmentally responsible practices. The organization operates based on seven cooperative principles that include concern for community.
