Rural economic development grant - electric farm bill

The Rural Business Cooperative Services, administered through the United States Department of Agriculture, awarded a $300,000 project grant to Lehigh Valley Co-Operative Telephone Association on July 22, 2025, under the Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants program (CFDA 10.854). This award, with a completion date of July 22, 2027, supports rural economic development initiatives in Iowa. The Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants program provides zero-interest financing to eligible local utility organizations, which serve as intermediaries to distribute funds to ultimate recipients—rural businesses and development projects within their service territories.

Through this grant, Lehigh Valley Co-Operative Telephone Association will facilitate funding for rural economic development projects, which may include project feasibility studies, business start-up costs, business incubator initiatives, and other eligible expenses designed to promote rural entrepreneurship and job creation. As a pass-through mechanism, the utility organization will deploy the $300,000 in federal funds to support sustainable economic development projects that demonstrate potential for employment generation within its service area. The two-year performance period aligns with typical program parameters, consistent with historical award patterns for this funding mechanism.