To care and to serve
Those of us who work at Wiregrass Electric Cooperative (WEC) are truly blessed. We support an organization entering its 82nd year of service. We uphold an important and eternal legacy that began when our forefathers banded together to bring life-changing electrical service to our area.
Their words and actions have guided our employees and board trustees, past and present. Over time, WEC has accrued a level of trust with its members and their communities, and we do not regard that lightly.
That is why we take an active role in investing in our communities in several ways — from making charitable contributions through Operation Round Up to initiating economic development projects to providing several scholarships annually. We’re also pleased how momentum continues to grow for one of our more recent undertakings.
In January, our partnership with Troy Cable — Broadband for the Wiregrass — landed a Rural Digital Opportunity Fund federal grant. With this money, Troy Cable will expand broadband internet access to about 1,418 homes and businesses in Houston County, many of which will receive high-speed internet for the first time.
The Broadband for the Wiregrass partnership began as an effort to strengthen our power grid, but it has expanded to so much more. Combined with two state grants and the recent Rural Digital Opportunity Fund award, more than 10,000 of our members will have broadband access by 2024 through this partnership. The value of this service cannot be understated in our technologically based society.
Some may wonder why an electric cooperative would be interested in assisting broadband expansion. Fortunately, through great management that begins with our member-elected board of trustees, WEC has been blessed with resources.
Instead of losing sight of our origins as we’ve grown, our legacy compels us to identify our area’s greatest challenges and assist in any way we can. We really are “big enough to serve, local enough to care.”
While we will use that mantra to define 2021, it has motivated us for years. In this magazine, you’ll read about how two Operation Round Up donations benefited the athletics programs at Houston County and Samson high schools. Those are just the most recent examples of how your donations have helped fund major efforts in recent years.
Additionally, we buy banners that support local athletics programs throughout our region and ads in their game programs. We understand the value of local athletics for the children involved, as well as for their communities.
Luke 12:48 tells us that “to whom much is given, much is required.” We are a blessed organization because of our members. Thank you for allowing us to be a blessing to others.
Les Moreland
CEO Wiregrass Electric Cooperative