Addressing digital equity through broadband infrastructure expansion is a key pillar of our transition framework. In keeping with those efforts, we’re excited to announce our support for four projects in coal-impacted communities through their applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Rural eConnectivity (ReConnect) Program. Through this program, the USDA will make grants and loans to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural areas. The Just Transition Fund proudly supports projects led by the following organizations:
- Bond County (Illinois): to build a middle mile/core mile to expand broadband access to the roughly 3,100 unserved homes in Bond County, IL
- Emery Telephone Cooperative (Utah): to extend Emery’s existing fiber infrastructure to more remote areas throughout central and southeastern Utah
- Foothills Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation (Kentucky): to construct fiber infrastructure to expand broadband access in rural Martin County, KY
- Mountain Rural Telephone Cooperative Corporation (Kentucky): to deploy a high-speed fiber network to approximately 1,500 unserved and underserved locations in Powell and Rowan Counties, KY
Through our Federal Access Center, we help coal communities overcome barriers to accessing federal funds – high matching requirements, time-intensive application processes – and leverage historic amounts of available funding to strengthen local economies. If you are working in a transitioning coal community and need assistance applying for federal funds, please fill out this brief inquiry form to get started.
<< Back to news