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<p class="MsoNormal">Hello rural libraries,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The US Department of Agriculture is offering grants and loans to rural communities for broadband internet expansion, called ReConnect. I’ve pasted a bit more info from a recent communication from the Special Districts Association (below).
There’s also a 2-page fact sheet available (easy for sharing with stakeholders in your community!) from the USDA here:
<a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/ReConnect_Program-Factsheet.pdf">https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/ReConnect_Program-Factsheet.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please contact the USDA directly if you have questions:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is now accepting online applications for funding through the new Rural e-Connectivity Pilot Program, known as ReConnect, announced State Director John
Huffman today. The ReConnect Program will provide up to $600 million nationwide in loans and grants to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in">Beginning today, telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers, and rural communities can submit ReConnect funding applications at https://reconnect.usda.gov.
The funds can be used to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with a population of 20,000 or less that currently lack sufficient internet service. Insufficient internet service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (mbps)
download and 1 mbps upload.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Cheers,<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">Ross Fuqua<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="color:#1F497D">Data & Federal Programs Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="color:#1F497D">503-378-5027 |
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries"><span style="color:#0563C1">oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a></span><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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