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Outline of Need:
Residents of rural Perry County in southern Indiana face special socio-economic challenges. Slow economic growth, high unemployment, and comparatively low educational attainment have hindered local efforts to improve the quality of life in this county situated along the Ohio River.
How Rural Development Helped:
Economic development efforts in Perry County received a boost with the announcement of a special financing partnership between the Perry County Port Authority, Southern Indiana Rural Electric Cooperative (SIREC), and USDA Rural Development. SIREC was awarded a $450,000 interest free USDA Rural Economic Development Loan which was in turn loaned by SIREC to the Perry County Port Authority for reconstruction of the Hoosier Southern Railroad main line and certain facilities at the Port of Tell City.
Addressing the group gathered to celebrate the awarding of the funding, Richard Neumann, General Manager of the Perry County Port Authority, likened the partnership to the port's two train engines. "These two engines work together to pull our trains", he said. "In the same way, the port, the REC and USDA are working together to create added economic development for Perry County."
The Results:
This important project will rehabilitate 22 miles of rail line and bridges of the Hoosier Southern Railroad which serves industrial customers in Perry and Spencer counties. The reconstruction of the rail line will prevent further deterioration through its continued use, become a viable alternate mode of transportation and stimulate development activity in Perry and Spencer counties. The improved rail line and port facilities will also aid in reduction of highway traffic by the transfer of products now shipped by truck to both rail and barge thus increasing highway safety and reducing pollution.
"Most people don't think of railroads or port facilities when they think of the U. S. Department of Agriculture but we invested nearly $16 million in Indiana last year to promote rural economic development projects", said White. "We are proud to again be an economic development partner with SIREC. Rural electric cooperatives have a strong commitment to rural America and have a unique knowledge of the needs of the communities in their service area.
(April 2002)
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