U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins hugs Gov. Bill Lee during the Future Farmers of America breakfast in Lebanon, Tenn. on Aug. 18, 2025. (Photo: John Partipilo/ Tennessee Lookout)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture invested $89 million — mostly in loans — to rural Tennessee communities to support improvements to electric utilities, critical infrastructure and education.

The Duck River Electric Membership Corporation, a Shelbyville-based electric cooperative serving nearly 83,000 customers across 17 counties, will receive the lion’s share of the investment through a $64.7 million loan. The loan will help the utility build and improve 239 miles of line to connect an additional 7,230 customers, according to the USDA. The electric cooperative previously partnered with the USDA’s

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