You are invited to join the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development in Welches, Oregon, for a technical assistance workshop on the new ReConnect Program, which will provide up to $600 million to facilitate broadband deployment in rural areas.
This regional workshop will give potential applicants an opportunity to gain a stronger understanding of the application process and program requirements. The workshop will provide specific details about the technical, financial, and program management requirements.
What: ReConnect Technical Assistance Workshop
When: Tuesday, April 23 — Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Where: Mt. Hood Oregon Resort
68010 East Fairway Avenue
Welches, Oregon 97067
Cost: Free
Pre-registration is required. For additional information, see the workshop flyer.
Coming Soon: Additional Workshop Locations
Rural Development will host four additional workshops on the ReConnect Program during the months of April and May 2019. These regional workshops will take place throughout the United States with locations in the southeast, southwest, and midwest. Dates, locations, and registration details for these workshops will be announced on the ReConnect website in the following weeks.
About the ReConnect Program
The ReConnect Program offers loans and grants to facilitate high-speed broadband deployment in rural areas that currently lack sufficient internet access. The delivery of broadband connection and high-quality service will enable technologies critical to rural communities, such as precision agriculture, and will fuel long-term economic development and opportunities in rural America.
Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers, and municipalities are eligible to apply.
Projects funded through the ReConnect Program must serve communities with fewer than 20,000 people and that have no broadband service or where existing service is slower than 10 megabits per second (mbps) download and 1 mbps upload.
Applications are due by the following dates:
- May 31, 2019, for grant funding
- June 21, 2019, for combined loan and grant funding
- July 12, 2019, for low-interest loans
For more information
Questions related to USDA's telecommunications programs in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho may be directed to Joe Bradley, General Field Representative, (208) 401-8090.
Those with project proposals outside of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho should contact the General Field Representative serving their state.