Celebrating Rural Communities

What’s so special about cooperatives?

Everything! Cooperatives have a rich history, especially in rural areas of our nation, of providing exceptional value to the communities we serve.

Consider:

The U.S. is home to more than 40,000 cooperative businesses with 350 million members, generating $514 billion in revenue and more than $25 billion in wages.

Local energy cooperatives distribute power to 75 percent of the U.S. landmass.

Co-ops are governed by a board of directors elected by members. The board hires and directs staff and is ultimately responsible to members.

Co-ops don’t have to answer to outside shareholders. They care about the needs of their members and communities.

Co-ops generate jobs in our communities, keep profits local and pay local taxes.

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are guided by the values of integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. These values are the foundation of our organization.

The Rural Electric Economic Development (REED) Fund has invested more than $98 million in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota.

Contact your local Touchstone Energy cooperative to learn how you can become involved.

Sources: Touchstone Energy (yourcooppower.com) and Co-op Month (coopmonth.coop)