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Michigan Ag Director praises USDA broadband investment
Michigan’s Ag Director is pleased with the latest USDA rural broadband funding announcement. Gary McDowell says it’s very exciting to see real progress in improving the infrastructure.
USDA announced in mid-May they would assist two service providers with 22.5 million dollars as part of the ReConnect Pilot Program. Barry County Services Company will get 11.8 million in loans and grants to extend service to 17 farms, 16 businesses, and 12-thousand residents. Southwest Michigan Communications will get 10.7 million in loans and grants to deploy fiber-to-the-premises service in Van Buren and Allegan counties for 22 farms, 19 businesses, and 77-hundred area residents.
McDowell says the USDA investment will help keep Michigan’s food and agriculture industry competitive and close the resource gap for tens of thousands of rural residents.
