News & Press
The Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce named Tri-County EMC “2023 Business of the Year” at its Annual Award Dinner on Monday evening, November 6. There to accept the award on behalf of the company were Directors Mike Rainey and Buck Comer, CFO Dawn Haskins, Supervisor of Field Engineering Justin Strickland, and Tri-CoGo COO Greg Mullis. (89687001)
“Our number one goal is to provide our membership with safe and reliable power,” says Tri-County CEO Ray Grinberg. “But it is our mission as a member-owned cooperative to improve the quality of life for people who live, work, and go to school in the communities that we serve.”
Cooperatives around the world, including Tri-County EMC, operate according to a core set of principles, the seventh being “Concern for Community”. The tradition of concern began as early as 1939, when Tri-County EMC was founded with the purpose of bringing electricity to rural farmers in Putnam, Jones, and Baldwin Counties. On September 12, 1940, forty miles of lines were energized, and 273 Tri-County members experienced electric service for the first time. Today and with nearly 23,000 meters now on its distribution system, Tri-County EMC continues its mission to better the lives of the individuals living in its eight-county service area through community and education grant programs, scholarships, leadership opportunities, economic development support, and most recently, 100% fiber internet service.
In the last year, the cooperative’s Bright Ideas program awarded grants totaling $10,000 to eight Putnam County teachers. In addition, local charitable organizations such as Neighbors Helping Neighbors and ManUp Mentoring, Inc. received Operation Roundup Grants from the Tri-County EMC Foundation that allowed them to complete noteworthy community projects. In June, Putnam County resident Jayden Daniel represented Tri-County on the prestigious Washington Youth Tour, and all-expenses paid leadership adventure in the nation’s capitol. Nearly 8,500 Putnam County residents now have access to high-speed internet service through the cooperative’s fiber internet affiliate, Tri-CoGo.
“While it is truly an honor to be named “Business of the Year” by the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce, our work could not be done without the generosity of our member-owners and strong support staff from top to bottom,” says Grinberg. “We look forward to serving Putnam County now and in the future as it grows.”