Project Grant CLSS00000118796

Federal Grant Award Summary

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation received a $300,000 Project Grant on May 28, 2026, under the Rural Economic Development Loans and Grants (REDLG) program (CFDA 10.854), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services. The grant, with an ultimate completion date of May 28, 2028, supports rural economic development and job creation initiatives within Blue Ridge Electric's service territory in North Carolina. As an intermediary utility organization, Blue Ridge Electric utilizes the zero-interest grant funding to provide pass-through support to eligible rural businesses and development projects, including project feasibility studies, business start-up funding, business incubator services, and technical assistance designed to foster entrepreneurship and sustainable economic growth in underserved rural communities.

The REDLG program leverages local utility organizations as intermediaries to ensure federal resources reach rural projects with demonstrated potential for employment generation and community economic resilience. Blue Ridge Electric's track record of managing multiple REDLG awards—ranging from $141,700 to $300,000—demonstrates its institutional capacity to effectively administer and deploy federal resources. The organization has utilized prior grant funding for similar purposes while also engaging in complementary initiatives such as energy resilience projects, including microgrid deployment and battery energy storage systems in rural North Carolina counties, reinforcing its commitment to comprehensive rural development outcomes.