The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has announced a nearly $173 million investment to provide reliable high-speed internet to rural residents, businesses, and farmers across the Dakotas and eight other states. This funding is part of the fifth round of the ReConnect Program, which aligns with President Biden’s Investing in America initiative to enhance infrastructure. USDA officials emphasized that reliable internet access will foster innovation and create good-paying jobs, connecting remote communities to a global marketplace and driving economic security.
The funding announcement occurred during a visit to a North Dakota telecommunications company set to receive over $22 million in grants, benefiting hundreds of residents and businesses, as well as farms and schools in the region. The ReConnect Program aims to address the challenges of providing high-speed internet to underserved areas, contributing to the Administration’s Internet for All initiative. Since the current Administration began, USDA has invested over $4 billion in ReConnect projects, improving internet access for millions of homes and businesses and expanding economic opportunities in rural areas.
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