Secretary Perdue Announces e-Connectivity Grant for Rural Alabama
(Brilliant, Ala., May 3, 2018) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced USDA is awarding a $2.9 million grant to the Tombigbee Electric Cooperative to bring e-Connectivity to rural Marion County, Alabama.
“In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of rural electrification and what it meant to people in those communities. FDR said it was ‘a modern necessity of life, not a luxury. That necessity ought to be found in every village, in every house, and on every farm in every part of the United States.’ Though he was talking about electricity, the same can be said for broadband Internet access today. To compete in today’s global marketplace, we must remove the infrastructure gaps in rural communities,” Secretary Perdue said. “This grant is in keeping with President Trump’s directive that we use all available tools to increase prosperity in rural America. As we pursue economic expansion, we recognize that broadband e-Connectivity is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.”
Tombigbee Electric Cooperative will use a USDA Community Connect Grant to deploy a Fiber-to-the-Premises network in the community of Brilliant and in surrounding areas of Marion County, Ala. This project will connect nearly 500 households to high-speed broadband as well as businesses and essential community services in the area. In addition, Tombigbee Electric Cooperative will establish a community center within the service area where residents can access the internet free of charge.
USDA’s Community Connect Grant Program provides grants to bring high-speed e-Connectivity to rural communities where there is not yet a business case for private providers to deliver service.
USDA is accepting applications through May 14 in the longstanding Community Connect program that has been in existence since 2002. Grants from $100,000 to $3 million are available to state and local governments, federally-recognized tribes, nonprofits and for-profit corporations.
The funds must be used to provide broadband service at a minimum bandwidth of 25 megabits downstream and three megabits upstream, which are the benchmark speeds the Federal Communications Commission has adopted for broadband connectivity. Awardees must offer free broadband service to all critical community facilities in their proposed service areas for two years and provide a community center with free broadband service for two years.
For more details on this grant opportunity, see page 11494 of the March 15 Federal Register.
Modern infrastructure is a necessity – not an amenity – for any community to thrive. Infrastructure is a foundation to provide a high quality of life and economic opportunities. USDA is proud to partner with local rural communities to help address their infrastructure needs.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community services such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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D Mines Spring Commencement and ROTC Commissioning May 5
RAPID CITY, SD (May 4, 2018) – Almost 400 students from across the nation will receive their Bachelor of Science, Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology’s commencement ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 5, in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena. South Dakota US Senator Mike Rounds will deliver the commencement address, and Gina Elmore of Hot Springs, S.D., a civil engineering major, will deliver the senior class message.
SD Mines graduates each have unique success stories and bright futures. If the media would like interviews with select graduates we can offer a few examples.
Joree Sandin: Whether Joree Sandin chooses a career working on rockets or developing prosthetics, she's certain of one thing. "I just want to help people," she says. "That's what I want to do with my career at the end of the day." The senior mechanical engineering major at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, Sandin grew up in Greeley, Colo., dreaming of a career in space exploration. "I wanted to be an aerospace engineer because I love space," she says. "Stargazing is one of my favorite things to do."
Scyller Borglum: On May 5, Scyller Borglum will earn her Ph.D. in geological engineering from SD Mines, culminating a career and academic trajectory that started with a degree in Scandinavian language and included along the way a theology degree as well as a job in the oil fields of North Dakota.
Dalton Lyons: During his years at SD Mines, Dalton Lyons didn’t watch Netflix or play around on social media. He didn’t have time. Lyons, who graduates with a degree in civil engineering, served as an officer on the Concrete Canoe Team, an officer in the American Society of Civil Engineers, president of Chi Epsilon, a member of Tau Beta Pi, president and vice president of the Professional Development Institute for Student Leaders and a student member of the community development organization East of 5th.
You can find more information on the SD Mines commencement ceremony here. The event is live streamed over the internet here. For a list of all graduates, click here.
ROTC Commissioning at Mt. Rushmore
The media is invited to attend the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Mt. Rushmore Battalion ROTC commissioning ceremony at the Mt. Rushmore Amphitheater, Saturday, May 5 at 3 p.m. During this ceremony, ROTC Cadet Sam Wendte, mechanical engineer major, and Cadet Carson Purtell, mechanical engineer major, will commission as officers to serve in various branches of the United States Army. The media and the public are welcome to attend.
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VIDEO: Judicial Watch Sues DOJ for FISA Court Hearing Transcripts Tied to Clinton-DNC Dossier
“The Clinton-DNC dossier was likely dishonestly used to gain [FISA]
those surveillance warrants”
“Frankly, President Trump should order the release of these FISA
court records to both Judicial Watch and the American people.”
On May 3, 2018, Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton discussed the new FISA lawsuits announced by Judicial Watch. To read the full press release, click here.
