PERRY, IA—Raccoon Valley Radio has successfully transitioned to local ownership thanks to critical funding from Minburn Communications and Guthrie County REC. The two rural utility providers each have USDA-awarded Revolving Loan Funds, which Raccoon Valley Radio utilized as part of their financing package, which allowed longtime station manager and staff member John and Jen McGee to purchase the radio group.
Raccoon Valley Radio, a staple of west-central Iowa for over two decades which has made it part of the local community fabric, operates stations KDLS, KGRA, and KKRF with physical locations in Perry, Jefferson, and Stuart. The stations are known for their strong community focus, providing daily local news, weather, and comprehensive sports coverage for Dallas, Greene, and Guthrie counties.
John McGee, a dedicated Perry resident with over 30 years of experience in the radio industry, has been the general manager of Raccoon Valley Radio since 2012. As the previous owner approached retirement, McGee saw a crucial opportunity to take the stations to new heights.
Minburn Communications CEO Douglas Pals said, “Our board of directors and I are so pleased that an economic development tool we have available to businesses in our service area could be used as part of a package to assist John and Jen with this purchase. Their commitment to our region for both local news and community support is immensely helpful for residents in our region.”
“Jen and I are committed and excited to be in a position to continue serving and growing the communities we’re in. We realize the vital role we play in keeping a community committed to its growth and development, as well as providing our clients with the tools and resources they need to grow their businesses,” said McGee.
McGee continued, “This purchase ensures our focus remains on providing authentic, local content that our listeners and local businesses depend on. The support from Minburn Communications and Guthrie County REC was critical in making this happen. It was exciting to see local economic development at the grassroots level. Thank you to Minburn Communications, Guthrie County REC, and Iowa Area Development group for helping make this happen.”
The financing package also included an SBA loan facilitated by Racoon Valley Bank. This project, under McGee’s leadership, will ensure the station continues to be a key economic driver for the region and a cornerstone of community life.
The revolving loan fund from Minburn Communications was established more than 10 years ago when an initial development project first used & helped create the revolving loan fund. Since then, several local projects have been able to use the funds, after all previous projects had repaid the funds and therefore replenished the loan pool.
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