Dear Member-Owners,
At Roanoke Cooperative, we’re here to serve you and make things better for our community. Over the years, we’ve faced challenges, including navigating the complexities of serving one of the lowest densities of metered accounts per mile of line in North Carolina and some of the most stagnant growth. Historically, our region has had lower levels of industrial activity, which has shaped our financial landscape. However, our collective efforts are starting to bear fruit, and we are seeing positive changes.
Since launching fiber investments as part of our growth strategy in the mid-2010s and extending the service to more member-owners in the 2020s, our wholly owned subsidiary, Fybe, has connected over 6,200 subscribers, including more than 4,100 member-owners of Roanoke Cooperative. Beyond broadband, these fiber investments support the electric grid, expand educational opportunities, and drive economic development. As we continue to extend service availability to all member-owners—a milestone we expect to reach within the year—we are beginning to see these efforts translate into tangible benefits for the cooperative and our community.
Our work with economic development professionals in the region is also starting to pay off. In February, we will acknowledge the completion of a new substation on our system—an essential development that will support our efforts in working with industrial services and strengthening infrastructure for future growth. In late 2024, we began working with some of the largest industrial services to ever come online at Roanoke, creating opportunities for growth and helping to balance the financial responsibilities that have historically been carried primarily by residential member-owners. This is just the beginning, and we believe these early successes have the potential to lead to more advancements in the future.
We remain dedicated to fostering economic growth and strengthening our community. As our economic development efforts gain momentum, we will continue working toward a more resilient and sustainable future, ensuring that these initiatives create lasting benefits for all member-owners.
We appreciate the opportunity to serve you and remain committed to working together for a stronger future.
Sincerely,
Marshall Cherry
President and CEO