Company Received $5.4 million in USDA Loan/Grant Funding in 2020
North Liberty, Iowa – Sept. 15, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director in Iowa Theresa Greenfield visited South Slope Cooperative Communications in North Liberty today to promote USDA’s recent announcement of $1 billion in funding available for high-speed internet in Round 4 of its ReConnect program.
South Slope Cooperative Communications received $5.4 million in ReConnect funding in 2020 to bring high-speed internet to rural communities in eastern Iowa. The business is using a $2.7 million ReConnect grant and a $2.7 million ReConnect loan awarded in August 2020 to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to connect 1,984 people, 147 farms and 26 businesses to high-speed broadband internet in Iowa and Johnson counties.
Director Greenfield met with company leadership to promote the ReConnect Round 4 program. The ReConnect Round 4 application window is now open and will close on November 2, 2022.
“It’s been the summer of high-speed internet at USDA, with advances in connectivity for households and businesses all across Iowa,” said Director Greenfield. “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to investing in rural infrastructure and high speed internet. USDA-funded projects such as this one for high-speed internet act as a catalyst for economic development and support precision agriculture and distance learning for rural areas.”
The ReConnect Loan and Grant Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.
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.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, 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. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
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