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USDA Seeks Applications for Grants to Help Finance Rural Broadband

Name
Gayle Aubrey
City
Temple
Release Date

USDA Rural Development Texas State Director Paco Valentin announced today that USDA is soliciting applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Community Connect Program grants. The program provides grants to establish essential broadband services in rural communities where it is currently not available.

 

“Many rural communities in Texas do not have access to broadband service,” said Valentin. “USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program ensures that rural residents have the ability to run businesses, get the most from their education, and benefit from the infinite services that fast, reliable broadband provides.”

 

The minimum amount of grants awarded will be $100,000; the maximum is $3,000,000. The deadline for applications to be submitted is February 17, 2015.

 

Last year, USDA announced new rules to better target Community Connect grants to areas where they are needed the most.  To view the rules, go to: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-05-03/pdf/2013-10502.pdf

 

Since its inception, the Community Connect program has funded 237 projects with investments of $149 million.

 

For more information, see page 75120 of the December 17, 2014 Federal Register at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-12-17/pdf/2014-29600.pdf.

 

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure and facility programs through a national network of state and local offices. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.  For information on this and other USDA Rural Development programs in Texas, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/TXHome.html.