Lumbee River EMC, the Touchstone Energy cooperative that serves Robeson, Scotland, Hoke and parts of Cumberland counties, is helping to fund a new facility for Red Springs Rescue Squad in Robeson County. The co-op obtained a $265,000 zero-interest loan from the USDA Rural Economic Development program to assist the nonprofit rescue squad in replacing its outdated facility to better provide emergency medical services throughout Robeson County and to its 130,000 residents. The town of Red Springs and Robeson County fund the rescue squad operations, which involve 35 volunteers who donate their time to serve the community.

A modern 5,000-square-foot facility will replace the 47-year-old, 2,400-square-foot building, which had become cramped and dilapidated. The new building is expected to improve response times to medical emergencies and help recruit and retain volunteers.

These federal funds, appropriated by the U.S. Congress and obligated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, will be given to the Lumbee River EMC revolving loan fund, then to Red Springs Rescue Squad. The cooperative also matched the funding by placing $53,000 into the co-op’s existing revolving loan fund. This extra funding will be used in other projects to promote economic development in the area.