Flint Energies donated $10,000 to Houston County Fire Department and EMA to help outfit the new Lake Joy Emergency Operations Center with equipment, furniture and technological components. Flint made the contribution from monies generated by its former consumer-members’ unclaimed capital credits and through a matching grant.
 
“Since our inception as a rural electric cooperative, Flint Energies has worked to improve the quality of life for our members. One way we can help is by assisting the county in furnishing a central control center for emergency management capabilities,” says Flint Vice President of Cooperative Communications Marian McLemore. “We believe this donation will benefit all Houston County residents and their families.”
 
A portion of the funds are the result of a matching grant by CoBank, one of Flint’s lenders. CoBank’s Sharing Success program doubles the contribution of its co-op customers to the charitable organization of their choice.
 
Flint Energies is an electric cooperative that operates at cost. Any excess revenues are returned to members in the form of capital credits. In some cases, the cooperative is unable to locate former members and the funds are considered abandoned after six years. These unclaimed capital credits are then used by Flint to support education, economic development and 501(c)(3) charitable organizations in our service territory.
 
The approximately 3,000 sq. ft. emergency operations center is currently under construction off Lake Joy Road in Kathleen.