Cooperative Community Day

Every October, cooperatives across America celebrate the role, accomplishments and contributions of our nation's cooperatives. Observing National Co-op Month gives us yet another reason to tell Jay County REMC members they are part of something special.

Cooperatives in America are as old as the nation itself. The first successful U.S. cooperative was organized in 1752 when Benjamin Franklin formed the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire -- the nation's oldest continuing cooperative.

Electric cooperatives began because investor-owned utilities did not find it cost effective to provide electricity to the rural areas in the 1930's. It was not economically sound to run a mile of wire and poles to serve one house. There was more money to be made in the populated areas.

In May 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive order No. 7037 creating the Rural Electrification Administration allowing for electricity to be brought to rural areas, including the Hoosier state. Indiana has a rich history with electric cooperatives. Indiana Statewide (now Indiana Electric Cooperatives), our statewide service organization, became incorporated in 1935 and was the first organization of its kind in the country. The first REMC was Boone County REMC in Lebanon, Indiana. Our own Jay County REMC was incorporated in 1936.

Jay County REMC serves members in Adams, Blackford, Delaware, Jay, Randolph and Wells counties.

In 2021 we helped paint and clean up at the Blackford County 4-H fairgrounds and we helped paint at the Midwest Pet Refuge. Here are are few pictures from the day.

For more information about the community you live in, check out your local Chamber of Commerce website below.