The last time Coahoma Electric Power Association moved into a new building it was 1953.
The local power cooperative marked a 69-year milestone last week as it officially snipped the red ribbon on its new headquarters north of Clarksdale.
“The cooperative has grown tremendously and we have more employees and equipment,” said Board President Mike Tyner of Clarksdale. “We will have so much more room and it will be more accessible and centrally located. It was time to grow.”
The 24-acre site at the corner of Hwy. 61 and Rudyard-Jonestown Road provides easy access to customer and to the power company’s fleet of trucks.
Company officials said, while most of their contact with customers comes via telephone or internet, the headquarters has a drive-thru so people can drop off a payment on the way to shop in Clarksdale.
The complex includes a 6,000-square-foot administration building, a 14,000-square-foot warehouse/truck bay and a 4,800-square-foot maintenance building. Ground was broken on the new facility in July 2021with the completion date missed by only a few days.
Company officials said the cooperative took advantage of low interest rates last year and have been pleased with what they’ve bought.
But Coahoma EPA is more than a building, a key player in economic development in its seven county service area that includes Desoto, Tunica, Coahoma, Quitman, Bolivar, Sunflower and Tallahatchie counties.
“Electricity is major, major concern for any business or industry looking to locate in an area,” said Jon Levingston, Executive Director of Crossroads Economic Partnership. “It is also a key factor for residential development and the agricultural community. This will be a first stop for anyone looking to come to Coahoma County or the region.”
Coahoma EPA Office Manager Bob Burke said the facility has many perks that make it different from the former location in Lyon.
“We’ve got what we call a situation room where we can monitor the flow of power around the service area,” said Burke. “We can also monitor bad weather from this room and have linemen and trucks ready when bad weather hits.”
Maintaining the fleet of trucks is critical to keeping the lines humming and power moving. A fully-equipped shop has roll-through bays and tools necessary to fix trucks.
The facility also has a training area, conference room, board room and waiting area at the front desk.
Coahoma County has entered negotiations with Coahoma EPA to obtain the old headquarters in Lyon and turn it into county offices.
Coahoma Electric Power Association was formed and chartered in 1937 by local citizens who wished to make electricity available for the rural area of Desoto, Tunica, Coahoma, Quitman, Bolivar, Sunflower and Tallahatchie counties.
This opportunity was a result of the Rural Electrification Administration being formed in 1935 as part of the “New Deal” plan outlined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Many consider the Rural Electrification Administration as the agency that modernized rural America.
The Mission of Coahoma Electric is to provide the highest quality service to all members. The cooperative has done just that, providing reliable electric power to families, farms, businesses and industry throughout its seven county service area.
Coahoma EPA is an electric cooperative governed by a Board of Directors elected by its members. An annual meeting of the members is held each year on the second Thursday of February. Information regarding the annual meeting is mailed to each member prior to the meeting date.
Safety is the first priority of Coahoma EPA and they stress that with employees and its members. In the event of an emergency involving electric service call 911 immediately.
Coahoma EPA offices can be reached at (662) 624-8321 during regular working hours. The afterhour’s numbers are (662) 902-7551 or (662) 902-7552.
