WEC, PowerSouth help fund new Ashford fire station

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Posted by: Staff
Date: May 05 2022 4:03 PM

HARTFORD: Ashford city officials will soon break ground on a new fire station with the help of $600,000 in funding from Wiregrass Electric Cooperative and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative.

The money is available through WEC’s and PowerSouth’s revolving loan fund programs, which provide ow-interest loans as “gap financing” to businesses, individuals or municipalities with development projects. Projects that receive funding show promise to create or retain jobs.

WEC and PowerSouth each contributed $300,000 toward the new fire station. The city of Ashford will contribute at least $200,000 to complete the funding for the project.

“Businesses looking to locate to any community check several items, including the availability of good utilities, a strong workforce and outstanding first responder services,” said Brad Kimbro, WEC’s chief operating officer. “By adding a new facility, Ashford Volunteer Fire Department can improve its response to Ashford and surrounding communities. This new station will help Ashford and the communities in Eastern Houston County more attractive to potential businesses and industries. We are proud to utilize our RLF program to make this project happen.”

The 6,440-square-foot facility will be the second fire station for the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department and will be in the Ashford Industrial Park on U.S. Highway 84. The building will feature three bays, a kitchen and space for sleeping quarters.

The new station will be constructed on a 2-acre parcel donated by the Ashford Industrial Development Board. The land surrounding the fire station could be used for training purposes.

A groundbreaking ceremony occurred May 4 at 10 a.m. in the Ashford Industrial Park. State Sen. Donnie Chesteen and state Rep. Paul Lee were among the event’s speakers.

“We thank Sen. Chesteen, Rep. Lee and the rest of our elected leadership for supporting U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, including the RLF program that made this project possible,” Kimbro said.

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