The Safety First! loan and grant program is designed to assist dairy farmers with their farm's re-wiring to meet current electrical code standards. Many agricultural facilities in the upper Midwest have been aging, and reinvestment in them has been made more difficult due to low milk prices.

This is a cost-sharing program with the following requirements:

• Dairy farms only (including cows, goats, and sheep which are kept for the production of milk).
• Dairy farmers who are members of CWEC.
• New construction is not eligible.
• Pre- and post inspections by an approved state-certified inspector.
• The work must be completed by or under the direction of a licensed Master Electrician who has completed the Farm Rewiring Certification.
• Before work commences, a bid from the electrician must meet loan/grant requirements.
• A signed service agreement or length of loan.
• Credit eligibility requirement. Financially, this program offers a loan/grant combination up to $30,000.
• Before final payment is made for the re-wiring project, the work must pass a final electrical inspection by a licensed master electrician.

Other financing is available as well:

• Grants are available for 20% or up to $6,000 from WECA.

Wisconsin electric cooperatives are offering this financial assistance in order to protect the safety of their members and to help preserve and extend the life of important assets for farmers.

For more information on this program, please contact CWEC.