Funding will bring high-speed internet to 164 homes and businesses in several Iowa and Minnesota counties
DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 22, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield today announced that the Department is investing $11,414,096 to connect 983 people, 42 businesses, and 122 farms to high-speed internet access in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties in Iowa and Houston County in Minnesota. USDA is making the investments through the third funding round of the ReConnect Program.
Spring Grove Communications is receiving a $5,707,048 grant and a $5,707,048 loan to help deploy the fiber-to-the-premises network.
“High-speed internet has become an absolute cornerstone for prosperity in Iowa,” said Director Greenfield. “Under the leadership of President Biden, Vice-President Harris, and Secretary Vilsack, we are committed to expanding economic opportunities for rural Iowans.”
The funding is part of a larger announcement for $502 million in loans and grants to provide high-speed internet access for rural residents and businesses in 20 states and highlights the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to investing in rural infrastructure and providing reliable, affordable, high-speed internet for all.
USDA has announced $858 million in the third round of ReConnect funding so far and plans to make more investment announcements under this program in the coming weeks. Today’s announcement follows the Department’s July 28 announcement that it has invested $356 million through the ReConnect Program to help very rural residents and businesses in 11 states gain access to high-speed internet.
To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, an applicant must serve an area where high-speed internet service speeds are lower than 100 megabits per second (Mbps) (download) and 20 Mbps (upload). The applicant must also commit to building facilities capable of providing high-speed internet service at speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in its proposed service area.
Contact USDA Rural Development
USDA Rural Development has 11 offices across the state to serve the 1.7 million Iowans living in rural communities and areas. Office locations include a state office in Des Moines, along with area offices in Albia, Atlantic, Humboldt, Indianola, Iowa Falls, Le Mars, Mount Pleasant, Storm Lake, Tipton and Waverly.
To learn more about investment resources for rural areas in Iowa, call (515) 284-4663 or visit www.rd.usda.gov/ia. 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.
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