HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-17-23 Correspondence - USDA - USDA Offers New Funding to Promote Expansion of Hi-Speed Internet in Rural AreasFrom:USDA Rural Development MontanaTo:AgendaSubject:USDA Offers New Funding to Promote Expansion of Hi-Speed Internet in Rural AreasDate:Monday, April 17, 2023 10:02:21 AM
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US Department of Agriculture Rural Development - Together America Prospers
News Release
Contact: press@oc.usda.gov
USDA Offers New Funding to Promote
Expansion of High-Speed Internet in Rural Areas
WASHINGTON, April 17, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today
announced the availability of $20 million to deliver broadband technical assistance
resources for rural communities, and to support the development and expansion of
broadband cooperatives.
USDA is offering the funding under the new Broadband Technical Assistance Program.
The program supports technical assistance projects such as conducting feasibility studies,
completing network designs, and developing broadband financial assistance applications.
Funding is also available to help organizations access federal resources, and to conduct
data collection and reporting.
“USDA is committed to making sure that people, no matter where they live, have access
to high-speed internet. That’s how you grow the economy – not just in rural communities,
but across the nation,” said USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres
Small. “USDA is partnering with small towns, local utilities and cooperatives, and private
companies to increase access to this critical service which in turn boosts opportunity and
helps build bright futures.”
This initiative is made possible through President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law, which provides $65 billion to expand access and lower costs of high-speed internet..
This initiative has been designed to work in conjunction with other high-speed internet
programs to meet President Biden’s goal to connect every community in America with
affordable, reliable, high-speed internet.
Today’s announcement reflects the goals of President Biden’s Investing in America
agenda to rebuild the economy from the middle-out and bottom-up.
USDA encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key
priorities:
Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market
opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to USDA Rural Development
(RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate
change through economic support to rural communities.
Applicants must choose one of the following funding categories:
Technical Assistance Providers: Applicants must propose to deliver broadband
technical assistance that will benefit rural communities. Up to $7.5 million is
available. The minimum award is $50,000. The maximum is $1 million.
Technical Assistance Recipients: Applicants must be the recipients of the
broadband technical assistance. Up to $7.5 million is available. The minimum award
is $50,000. The maximum is $250,000.
Projects Supporting Cooperatives: Applicants must propose projects that support
the establishment or growth of broadband cooperatives that will benefit rural
communities. Up to $5 million is available. The minimum award is $50,000. The
maximum is $1 million.
USDA 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.
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, ensuring access to 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.
To subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit the GovDelivery subscriber page.
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