While we’ve strived to give back in additional ways throughout this period of unprecedented need, our ongoing investments in the local community are the foundation of the brighter future we envision. From education grants and support for local non-profits, to innovative energy solutions and new technologies, everything we do is aimed at strengthening our community.
Chief among CHEC’s commitments are economic and community development activities that lead to new opportunities for our members and give Hatteras Island the resources it needs to grow and thrive. In 2019, we helped the Buxton Volunteer Fire Department attain a zero-interest loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program to help pay for the construction of the new fire station in Buxton. Once this loan, totaling $360,000, is paid back to the cooperative, CHEC retains that money in a revolving loan fund that will be available in the future for other entities to borrow.
It is a goal of the cooperative to secure more REDLG monies to build the revolving loan fund for additional projects to benefit Hatteras Island. We are currently working with the Hatteras Village Civic Association to apply for another REDLG loan which will help pay for sidewalks in Hatteras Village. If your local non-profit organization would like more information about the REDLG program or to discuss qualifying projects, please call us at (252)995-5616 or email laurae@chec.coop.
“Because we’re owned by and based in this community, we know firsthand what our communities have to offer, and we’re committed to improving the quality of life on Hatteras Island,” said Susan Flythe, general manager and EVP of CHEC. “We’re committed to making meaningful investments that will support economic vitality and the long-term success of our members.”