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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hello colleagues,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I’m forwarding this announcement from Business Oregon regarding CARES Act funding to Business Oregon’s Rural Broadband Capacity Program for grants in support of broadband projects
 targeting unserved and underserved areas of the state. Libraries are eligible via their city, county, or governing entities. Additional details are available on their
<span style="color:#0070C0"><a href="https://www.oregon4biz.com/Broadband-Office/Rural-Broadband-Capacity-Program/?utm_term=our%20website&utm_campaign=News%20Release%2F%2F%20Business%20Oregon%20Announces%20Grants%20for%20Broadband%20Access%20&utm_content=email&utm_source=Act-On+Software&utm_medium=email&cm_mmc=Act-On%20Software-_-email-_-News%20Release%2F%2F%20Business%20Oregon%20Announces%20Grants%20for%20Broadband%20Access%20-_-our%20website"><span style="color:#0070C0">website</span></a></span>
 and the deadline for applications is July 2. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Jennifer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:5.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">Jennifer Patterson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">State Librarian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><a href="mailto:jennifer.l.patterson@state.or.us"><span style="color:#0563C1">jennifer.l.patterson@state.or.us</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">503-378-4367 |
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="www.oregon.gov/library"><span style="color:#0563C1">www.oregon.gov/library</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">Follow us:
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="http://fb.me/StateLibraryOR"><span style="color:#0563C1">Facebook</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
 | </span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="https://twitter.com/StateLibraryOR"><span style="color:#0563C1">Twitter</span></a></span></u><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">|</span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
</span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/statelibraryor/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Instagram</span></a></span></u><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">
</span></b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D">|<b>
</b></span><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#0563C1"><a href="https://pinterest.com/statelibraryor/"><span style="color:#0563C1">Pinterest</span></a></span></u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img border="0" width="218" height="60" id="Picture_x0020_27" src="cid:image002.png@01D64640.C224A100" alt="Title: State Library of Oregon"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:0%"><span style="font-size:1.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-03dd-2006/Bct/q-0b57/l-0007:2827/ct0_0/1?sid=TV2%3AfGyaxeFtB" target="_blank" id="ct0_0"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="600" height="111" id="r-173828" src="http://development.oregon4biz.com/cdnr/84/acton/cx/39c2/logo73.jpg" alt="Business Oregon logo"></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<a name="B1440606249367"></a><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br>
June 19, 2020<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12.0pt;line-height:150%"><a name="B1441820668325"></a><strong><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Roboto Slab";color:black">Business Oregon Announces Grants for Broadband Access</span></strong><span style="font-size:18.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Today Business Oregon released the latest of the state's COVID-19 relief efforts for communities wanting to expand access to broadband. The Oregon Legislative Assembly
 Joint Emergency Board allocated $10,000,000 from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund to Business Oregon’s Rural Broadband Capacity Program for grants in support of broadband projects targeting unserved and underserved areas of the state. 
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">“The COVID-19 crisis has further highlighted the fact that high quality access to broadband is essential to the health and education of Oregonians,” said Business Oregon
 Interim Director Chris Cummings. "This funding will help provide access to broadband and improve support for telehealth, distance learning, and telework applications as broadband investment continues to be crucial infrastructure for economic and community
 development."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Grants must be used for projects that provide increased broadband capacity internet access for telework, telehealth, and K-12 distance learning applications in unserved
 and underserved areas in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Eligible applicants include Oregon cities, counties, ports, tribes, cooperatives, non-profit corporations, public-private partnerships, school districts, education service districts,
 hospitals, health systems, and private sector internet service providers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">An overview of the program, the application form, and instructions for submitting applications is available on
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-03dd-2006/Bct/q-0b57/l-0007:2827/ct1_0/1?sid=TV2%3AfGyaxeFtB" id="ct1_0">
<span style="color:#006699">our website</span></a>. Applications are due July 2, 2020 by 5:00 pm. Submit applications to the
<a href="mailto:broadband.oregon@oregon.gov"><span style="color:#006699">Oregon Broadband Office</span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Funding offers will be contingent upon successful completion of the application process and negotiation between Business Oregon and funding recipients. All projects must
 be completed and grant funds must be expended by December 30, 2020. Unexpended funds will be returned to the U.S. Treasury in accordance with the CARES Act of 2020.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Media Contact</span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">:
<a href="mailto:nathan.buehler@oregon.gov"><span style="color:#006699">Nathan Buehler</span></a>, 503-689-3559.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Business Oregon,</span></strong><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> the state's economic development agency,
 invests in Oregon businesses, communities, and people to promote a globally competitive, diverse, and inclusive economy. The agency's services span rural community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export
 promotion and international trade; investments in industry research and development and entrepreneurship; small business assistance; and support for arts and cultural organizations. Learn more at
<a href="https://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/ct/14786/s-03dd-2006/Bct/q-0b57/l-0007:2827/ct0_1/1?sid=TV2%3AfGyaxeFtB" id="ct0_1">
<span style="color:#006699">www.oregon4biz.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Copyright © 2020 Business Oregon</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Our address is
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#006699">775 Summer St NE, Suite 200, Salem, OR 97301, USA</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">If you do not wish to receive future emails,
<a href="http://development.oregon4biz.com/acton/rif/14786/s-03dd-2006/-/l-0007:2827/q-0b57/zout?sid=TV2%3AfGyaxeFtB">
<span style="color:#006699">update your preferences here</span></a>.</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><br>
</span><span style="font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">(You can also send your request to
<strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Customer Care</span></strong> at the street address above.)</span><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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