Celebrating National Co-op Month in October

When you hear the word cooperative, what comes to mind? As your local electric co-op, we hope you think of Tri-County EMC. Regardless of the services offered, all cooperatives have one thing in common: they’re led by the people they serve, and that simple idea makes a meaningful difference.

Cooperatives come in all shapes and sizes, each created to meet a specific need. Credit unions help members save and borrow money. Producer cooperatives, like Ocean Spray and Land O'Lakes, help farmers bring their products to market. Retail cooperatives, like REI and ACE Hardware, are owned by their shoppers or a membership of store owners, while housing cooperatives give residents a voice in managing their communities. Last but certainly not least, utility cooperatives provide reliable electricity to the communities they serve.

Unlike many businesses that answer to outside investors or shareholders, cooperatives are built for their members. Their goal isn’t simply to earn a profit. Co-ops exist to provide value, meet unique local needs, and strengthen the communities they call home. That’s exactly what makes Tri-County EMC different.

Our story began in 1939 when neighbors came together to bring electricity to an area when other utilities wouldn’t. While a lot has changed since then, our purpose has remained steady. We’re still here to provide power and make decisions with our community’s best interests in mind.

Being locally owned means we have the flexibility to focus on what matters most to the communities we serve. That’s why no two electric cooperatives are exactly alike. Every community has different needs, and every cooperative reflects those priorities. For some co-ops, that means expanding programs that help members save energy and money. Others may focus on supporting economic development, investing in new technology, or creating new opportunities for local students, such as Washington Youth Tour.

You’ll also find the co-op difference in the little things. It’s the lineworkers restoring power after a storm, employees answering your questions when you call, team members volunteering at community events, and board members who help guide cooperative decisions for the future. 

Perhaps the most important part of the cooperative difference is you. As a member of Tri-County EMC, you aren’t simply a customer. Members elect directors to represent them, helping ensure the people making important decisions understand the communities those decisions affect. That local connection keeps our priorities close to home.

October is National Co-op Month, a time to celebrate cooperatives of all kinds and the role they play in communities across the country. For us, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a cooperative and why that business model still matters more than 85 years after Tri-County EMC was founded.
 

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