HANCEVILLE, Ala., June 6, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and USDA Rural Development Alabama State Director Nivory Gordon, Jr. today met with representatives from several major internet service providers, state leaders, and local leaders in Alabama to discuss rural high-speed internet access across the state.
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investment in high-speed internet is an investment in the success of people across rural America,” Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small said. “That’s why this collaboration in Alabama convened by Congressman Aderholt is so important. It will lead to new jobs and businesses, improve access to health care, empower students with new information, help farmers and businesses break into new markets and build wealth in rural Alabama for generations to come.”
“Through cooperative events like the one here today, USDA is working to help connect rural Alabamians to the rest of the world”, Gordon said. “By listening to input from local governmental and industry leaders, we can better understand the challenges faced in bringing high-speed internet to rural Alabama. This input helps us to continue forward, working toward improving the quality of life for all rural Alabamians.”
Background:
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Programs provide a variety of loans and grants to build and expand broadband networks such as the The ReConnect Loan and Grant Program, which furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.
Other programs designed to help bring high-speed internet to rural Alabama include the Community Connect Program, which provides financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants, the Rural Broadband Loans, Loan/Grant Combinations, and Loan Guarantees program which furnishes loans and loan guarantees to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide service at the broadband lending speed in eligible rural areas, the Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees program which provides financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas, and the Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Alabama, contact your local USDA Rural Development area office.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
#
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender