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NEWS RELEASE 1303
SW First American Place, Suite 100, Topeka,
KS 66604-4040 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 6, 2004
Contact - Harold Alford (785) 271-2701
USDA
Announces $6.5 Million In Loans To Increase
Rural Access To Hi-Speed Internet Technology In Kansas
FRESNO, Calif., – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced the approval of $95.2 million in Rural Development broadband loans nationally, including a $6.5 million loan for Kansas. The $95.2 million investment is expected to expand access to high-speed Internet technology for over 46,000 additional homes and businesses in several rural communities in the states of California, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, South Dakota and Texas.
"These investments are bringing new economic opportunity and a better quality of life to rural communities," said Veneman. "These loans are part of President Bush's efforts to expand universal access to broadband technologies to every home in America by the year 2007."
In Kansas, Nex-Tech, Inc. of Lenora, KS has been approved for a $6.5 million loan to purchase and upgrade infrastructure to serve 5,400 homes and businesses in the communities of Plainville, Smith Center and Stockton.
"These funds are part of both the Bush Administration and our Agency’s continued commitment to work in partnership with the private sector to bring universal access to broadband technologies to rural Kansas and across rural America," commented USDA Rural Development State Director Chuck Banks.
Funding for each of the loans announced will be contingent upon meeting the conditions of the loan agreements. USDA provides a number of other important tools to advance broadband service in rural America, including the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program which provides advance technologies for educational and health care needs.
Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, over $3.2 billion in telecommunication funding has provided more than a million rural homes and businesses with access to high speed broadband connections. To learn more about available funding through USDA's broadband program, visit http://www.usda.gov/ or contact USDA Rural Development broadband staff at 202-720-9554.
USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, the Agency provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure in rural America.
For additional information regarding USDA Rural Development programs, individuals
may call 785-271-2702 or log onto the state’s Agency’s website at: www.rurdev.usda.gov/ks
USDA Rural Development – Committed to the future of rural communities.
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