Press Release
☷Biden Harris Administration Announces Over $770 Million for Rural Infrastructure Projects During Investing in America Tour
U.S. Department of Agriculture ( By Press Release office)
Feb 23,2024
| 2| 1
The awards were announced during a Rural Prosperity town hall at Edgecombe Community College as part of the Biden - Harris Administration ' s fourth Investing in America tour . Many of these projects were made possible through investments from President Biden ' s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act . This announcement comes shortly after USDA ' s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant to equip 10 telemedicine stations throughout Edgecombe County . In terms of high - speed internet , USDA is investing $51 . 7 million to expand access through the Reconnect Program and the Broadband Technical Assistance Program . The Broadband Technical Assistance Program will provide $9 . 7 million to 24 organizations to deliver or receive technical assistance for expanding high - speed internet access in rural and Tribal communities across 17 states . This funding will also support the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives in rural areas . These programs are made possible by President Biden ' s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law , which allocates $65 billion to expand reliable , affordable , high - speed internet across the U . S . During a visit to Edgecombe County , N . C . , the U . S . Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden announced that USDA is funding 216 projects in 45 states , Puerto Rico , and the Northern Mariana Islands . These projects will bring high - speed internet , clean water , state - of - the - art infrastructure , and economic growth to rural communities as part of President Biden ' s Investing in America agenda . The total investment for these projects is $772 . 6 million and will benefit over 1 million people living in remote areas by providing reliable high - speed internet access , clean water , and support for rural families , agricultural producers , and small businesses . Awards will help people in various states like Alaska , California , Idaho , Kansas , Kentucky , Louisiana , Michigan , Mississippi , Nebraska , Nevada , North Carolina , Oregon , South Carolina , Texas , Virginia , Washington , and Wyoming . For instance , in the Midwest , Merit Network Inc . is receiving almost a million dollars to improve high - speed internet in several Michigan counties . In the South , HarvestBeam Inc . is getting a grant to expand internet access in multiple North Carolina communities . USDA is also giving out millions in grants to bring high - speed internet to rural areas , like the Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative Inc . in Florida and IBT Group USA LLC in Mississippi . Since the Biden - Harris Administration began , USDA has invested billions in projects to connect rural areas to high - speed internet . Additionally , USDA will be accepting applications for the fifth round of the ReConnect Program starting in 2024 to further expand internet access in rural America . Visit www . usda . gov/reconnect for more information on program improvements and requirements . USDA is also funding projects in underserved communities through the Rural Partners Network . USDA is also funding projects through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program to support state and local governments , private nonprofits , and federally recognized Tribes in building and enhancing rural wastewater systems . This funding allows rural communities to expand access to clean and reliable drinking water , sanitary waste disposal , and stormwater drainage . For example , in the Northeast , the town of Hancock , Maryland , will use the funding to rehabilitate and upgrade its wastewater treatment system . This will protect the health of approximately 1 , 500 people and the watersheds of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay . The Department is using the Solid Waste Management Grants Program to invest in organizations that offer technical assistance and training for rural communities and utilities to improve solid waste facilities . This assistance helps communities protect their local watersheds and the health of residents in rural areas . These investments are going to help create more jobs , business opportunities , quality healthcare , clean water , and renewable energy . Around $76 . 6 million of the funding announced today will go towards 32 projects in Alaska , Georgia , Kentucky , New Mexico , North Carolina , West Virginia , and Wisconsin . These projects will benefit small towns , cities , family farms , and small businesses in RPN communities and nearby areas in Tennessee . In the Midwest , Regional Water will use the funding to safeguard the health of 521 rural residents by constructing 12 . Since RPN ' s launch in April 2022 , the Biden - Harris Administration has given approximately $2 . 6 billion for various economic development projects in RPN communities across 10 states and Puerto Rico . Federal agencies , in partnership with USDA , have also provided over $80 million to RPN communities during the same period . Today , USDA is also granting $644 . 2 million to help 158 rural utilities provide clean drinking water and sanitary wastewater systems for 913 , 000 people in rural areas . This funding builds on the $5 . 8 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for clean water from the Environmental Protection Agency , which Vice President Harris announced in Pittsburgh yesterday . In Wayne County , West Virginia , Brunetti ' s Italian Bakery will receive a $150 , 000 Rural Energy for America Program grant . They will use this to purchase and install a 167 - kilowatt array that will save the business nearly $14 , 000 a year in energy costs . For example , Northampton County in North Carolina will use a $5 million Community Facilities Grant to add a 15 , 000 - square - foot extension to the courthouse . This will provide essential services to residents and businesses , with offices for the county manager , taxes , register of deeds , finance , human resources , and information technology . In rural Pottawattamie County , Iowa , we ' re building 25 miles of water pipes to supply two new housing developments . This project will benefit families and businesses across multiple states and territories , including Alabama , Alaska , Arkansas , and many more . You can find a complete list of our projects online . Our recent report , Rural America at a Glance , shows that our investments in rural infrastructure and jobs are making a difference . The rural population is growing , employment levels are improving , and clean energy jobs are on the rise . We ' re also seeing a decrease in poverty rates in rural areas . At USDA Rural Development , we provide loans and grants to support economic opportunities , create jobs , and improve the quality of life in rural communities . Our investments are making a positive impact all across rural America . Under the Biden - Harris Administration , the USDA is working to change America ' s food system by focusing on local and regional food production , creating fairer markets for producers , ensuring access to safe and healthy food for everyone , supporting farmers and producers with sustainable practices , investing in rural infrastructure and clean energy , and promoting diversity within the department . For more information , check out www . usda . gov . #USDA provides equal opportunities for all .
PLAY the NEWS
* May be useful for visually impaired persons .
Press release information:
Direct link to press release:
Click here .
