Pee Dee Electric Co-op to receive federal grant

Pee Dee Electric Cooperative Inc. of Darlington will receive a $300,000 grant and $740,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Program, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., announced.

Spratt said the Rural Development funds will be used to construct an advanced manufacturing/technology business incubator. The incubator, a 30,000-square-foot facility, will help small companies ready to start manufacturing. It will be built on the Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology campus, adjacent to the Florence-Darlington Technical College campus.

“Rural Development grants increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural Americans,” Spratt said in a press release. “This grant is expected to create 749 new jobs and I am proud to see the 5th District reap the benefits.”