TOMORROW: More than 500 Students, Teachers to Rally for School Choice during Charter Day on the Hill
Rally to feature remarks by Utah gubernatorial candidates
SALT LAKE CITY – One of Utah’s largest-ever charter school celebrations will take place during National School Choice Week when more than 650 students and teachers rally at the Utah State Capitol Rotunda. The Charter Day on the Hill will take place on Monday, Jan. 27, the first day of the legislative session.
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This event is organized by the Utah Association of Public Charter Schools.
As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 26 through February 1, 2020, more than 50,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.
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Could the climate crisis be “The Good News of Damnation”?
by Lawrence Wittner
852 words
On August 12, 1945, six days after the U.S. government obliterated the city of Hiroshima with a single atomic bomb, Robert Hutchins, the president of the University of Chicago, delivered a remarkable public address. Speaking on his weekly radio program, the Chicago Roundtable, Hutchins observed that Leon Bloy, a French philosopher, had referred to “the good news of damnation” under the assumption that only the fear of perpetual hellfire would motivate moral behavior. “It may be,” Hutchins remarked, “that the atomic bomb is the good news of damnation, that it may frighten us into that Christian character and those righteous actions and those positive political steps necessary to the creation of a world society.”
According to Hutchins, this world society would serve as the foundation of a world government, and, in the context of the existential danger posed by nuclear war, he was totally committed to creating it. “Up to last Monday,” he said, “I didn’t have much hope for a world state.” But the shock of the atomic bombing, he added, crystallized “the necessity of a world organization.”
In the following months, Hutchins created and, then, presided over a Committee to Frame a World Constitution―a group of farsighted intellectuals who conducted discussions on how best to overcome humanity’s ancient divisions and, thereby move beyond nationalism to a humane and effective system of global governance. In 1948, they issued a Preliminary Draft of a World Constitution, with a Preamble declaring that, to secure human advancement, peace, and justice, “the age of nations must end and the era of humanity begin.”
The Chicago committee constituted but a small part of a surprisingly large and influential world government movementthat, drawing on the slogan “One World or None,” flourished during the late 1940s. In the United States, the largest of the new organizations, United World Federalists, claimed 46,775 members and 720 chapters by mid-1949. The goal of creating a world federation was endorsed by 45 major national organizations, including the National Grange, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the United Auto Workers, the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Young Democrats, the Young Republicans, and numerous religious bodies. That year, 20 state legislatures passed resolutions endorsing world government, while 111 members of the House of Representatives and 21 Senators sponsored a congressional resolution declaring that the new United Nations should be transformed into “a world federation.” Much the same kind of uprising occurred in nations around the world.
Although this popular crusade waned with the intensification of the Cold War, as did the hopes for a sweeping transformation of the nation-state system, the movement did secure a number of vital changes in the international order. Not only did the United Nations begin playing an important part in global peace and justice efforts, but the original impetus for the world government movement―the existential danger of nuclear war―began to be addressed by world society.
Indeed, a massive, transnational nuclear disarmament movement, often led by former activists in the world government campaign, emerged and rallied people all around the planet. In this fashion, it placed enormous pressure upon the world’s governments to back away from the brink of catastrophe. By the mid-1990s, national governments had reluctantly agreed to a sweeping array of international nuclear arms control and disarmament treaties and were no longer threatening to plunge the world into a nuclear holocaust.
More recently, however, that world society has been crumbling thanks to a dangerous return of nationalism. From the United States to Russia, from India to Brazil, numerous countries have been swept up in xenophobia, triggering not only a disastrous revival of the nuclear arms race, but an inability to work together to challenge the latest existential threat to human survival: climate change. Championing their own narrow national interests―often based on little more than enhancing the profits of their fossil fuel industries―these nations have either torn loose from the limited international environmental agreements of the past or, at best, shown their unwillingness to take the more significant steps necessary to address the crisis.
And a crisis it is. With the polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising, whole continents (such as Australia) in flames, agriculture collapsing, and storms of unprecedented ferocity wreaking havoc, climate catastrophe is no longer a prediction, but a reality.
What can be done about it?
Clearly, just as in the case of heading off nuclear annihilation, no single nation can tackle the problem on its own. Even if a small country like the Netherlands, or a large country like the United States, managed to quickly develop a system of 100 percent renewable energy, that action would be insufficient, for other countries would still be generating more than enough greenhouse gasses to destroy the planet.
So there really is no other solution to the onrushing climate catastrophe than for people and nations to forget their tribal animosities and start behaving as part of a world society, bound together by an effective system of global governance. The climate crisis, like the prospect of nuclear annihilation, really is “the good news of damnation.” And we can only overcome it by working together.
One world or none!
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Dr. Lawrence Wittner, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor of History emeritus at SUNY/Albany and the author of Confronting the Bomb (Stanford University Press).
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THIS WEEK: 320 Celebrations of School Choice Week Organized by Schools, Organizations, and Individuals Underway in Utah
Beehive State Parents to Explore Education Options for Upcoming School Year
Governor Gary Herbert Issued Proclamation Recognizing Jan. 26-Feb.1 as Utah School Choice Week
Salt Lake City– Utah School Choice Week is underway, and families across the state are celebrating how K-12 education choices help students find success at hundreds of locally planned events.
Schools, organizations, and individuals are planning 320 events and activities, making up some of the 51,300 events planned nationwide to draw attention to K-12 education options. National School Choice Week (Jan. 26-Feb. 1) will be the largest celebration of educational choice in U.S. history, with a record-shattering 13.7 million Americans expected to participate.
One of the biggest events taking place in Utah will be a Capitol Rally on Monday, Jan. 27 at the Capitol Rotunda. Around the country, Americans will be celebrating at school open houses, pep rallies, screenings of the movie “Miss Virginia,” sports competitions, school fairs, and more. For a preview of local events planned in Utah, explore the events and updates listed at schoolchoiceweek.com/states/utah.
Governor Gary Herbert issued an official proclamation recognizing Jan. 26 - Feb. 1 as Utah School Choice Week.
In Utah, there are a variety of educational options to attend including: traditional public schools with flexible open enrollment, charter schools, magnet schools, online academies, private schools, and homeschooling. Utah students with special needs may qualify for a state-run scholarship program for private schools.
National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort celebrated since 2011. The week is nonpartisan, nonpolitical, and not related to any legislative advocacy campaign.
"Utah offers a variety of unique and diverse educational options for families," said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. "During National School Choice Week, we encourage Utah families to celebrate these education options and discover learning environments where their children will thrive."
In some schools, students lead the celebration of National School Choice Week at their schools. “Our student council wants you to know that this is a school where we are in charge of our education and we can get as much as we want and as much as we can out of it,” says Sonia Woodbury, executive director of City Academy in Salt Lake City.
To download a guide to school choice in Utah, see celebration photos and proclamation updates, or learn more about featured events, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/states/utah.
For information on events planned near you, reach out to us with information about your coverage area at pressoffice@schoolchoiceweek.com.
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National School Choice Week is an independent public awareness effort designed to shine a spotlight on effective education options for children. National School Choice Week celebrates all types of school choice options, including traditional public schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, private schools, online academies, and homeschooling. Learn more at www.schoolchoiceweek.com or explore the conversation about school choice on social media using hashtag #schoolchoice.
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Governor Herbert Proclaims Jan. 26-Feb. 1 “Utah School Choice Week”; Joins Leaders Nationwide in Celebrating Opportunity in Education
Utah students, communities to hold more than 300 events as part of
nation’s largest-ever celebration of school choice
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Gov. Gary Herbert has issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 26-Feb. 1 Utah School Choice Week. In doing so, he joins more than a dozen other governors and hundreds of city and county leaders nationwide who have issued similar proclamations.
Parents, schools, and other organizers throughout Utah have planned 320 events and activities for School Choice Week. The events, which include rallies, roundtable discussions, festivals, and school fairs, are designed to celebrate learning and foster discussion about the educational choices parents want for their children.
More than 50,000 events have been independently planned for the week nationwide, raising awareness about opportunity in education.
“We are so excited that Utah families will be celebrating school choice, and we’re grateful to Gov. Herbert for supporting them in that,” said Andrew Campanella, president of National School Choice Week. “We hope that National School Choice Week provides families across the country the opportunity to find the educational fit that works best for them.”
As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 26 through February 1, 2020, more than 50,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.
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For more information, visit schoolchoiceweek.com/utah.
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Hemp, Inc. Announces Soft Launch of First Company Store in Kingman, Arizona
GlobeNewswire•January 23, 2020
KINGMAN, AZ, Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE – Hemp, Inc. (OTC PINK: HEMP) a global leader in the industrial hemp industry with bi-coastal processing centers, has announced that it will be opening The King of Hemp Store™, its flagship, brick-and-mortar retail store at 330 East Beale Street in Kingman, Arizona.
The soft launch of The King of Hemp Store™ will take place on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, with a Grand Opening to follow. The 5,000 square foot retail space will be utilized for the store within a former Wells Fargo building in the entertainment district of Kingman or “Old Town Kingman”. The store will carry hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) topicals such as lotions, creams, shampoo, conditioner, luxury gifts and items such as gemstone encrusted hemp candles, high-quality hemp CBD pre-rolls, as well as industrial hemp products like hemp string and hemp denim jeans.
“We are proud to offer a wide range of hemp products that reflect the commitment Hemp, Inc. has to furthering the hemp revolution that is sweeping the nation,” said Dwight Jory, who has worked with Hemp, Inc. in various capacities, including as Project Manager for the Veteran Village Kins Community Arizona, Inc. “This store will provide education about hemp and also spark new local employment opportunities.”
Mike Simmons, a well-known community member who has ran multiple successful businesses in the downtown area is assisting with the store opening and operations. “The King of Hemp Store will add to the vibrancy of the downtown entertainment district and we look forward to participating in the ongoing annual festivals that celebrate the environment and the arts,” Simmons said. “We are also planning our own community outreach programs to further educate the community and visitors about hemp.”
According to a report from Research and Markets, the global industrial hemp market is projected to grow from USD 4.6 billion in 2019 to USD 26.6 billion by 2025, recording a CAGR of 34%. The global CBD skin care market size is expected to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., expanding at a CAGR of 32.9% over the forecast period.
“The curated yet diverse range of products we are offering in our new retail store speaks to how versatile the hemp plant is,” said Hemp, Inc. CEO Bruce Perlowin. “We are thrilled to bring the Kingman community high-quality hemp products. Opening a store in Kingman is a testament to how committed we are to supporting and giving back to all of the places we operate in. The store will carry several brands of CBD products and pre-rolls as well as a large array of other CBD and hemp products.”
To see one-minute videos of Hemp, Inc.’s current activities, visit Bruce Perlowin’s personal Facebook page, where he shares daily posts of Hemp, Inc.’s activities around the country. Those interested in purchasing Hemp, Inc.’s pre-rolls should email flower@hempinc.com.
WHAT IS HEMP, INC.?
What is Hemp, Inc.? With a deep-rooted social and environmental mission at its core, Hemp, Inc. seeks to build a business constituency for the American small farmer, the American veteran, and other groups experiencing the ever-increasing disparity between tapering income and soaring expenses. As a leader in the industrial hemp industry with ownership of the largest commercial multi-purpose industrial hemp processing facility in North America, Hemp, Inc. believes there can be tangible benefits reaped from adhering to a corporate social responsibility plan.
DAILY UPDATES ON FACEBOOK
Hemp, Inc. strives to be one of the most transparent companies in the public sector. To adhere to this company policy of transparency, CEO Bruce Perlowin posts 1-minute video updates daily on his personal Facebook page to give an inside look and behind-the-scenes footage of what Hemp, Inc. is doing on a daily basis. “We want them to know how the company is performing and what it is doing to reach its goals,” says Perlowin. To see 1 minute videos of Hemp, Inc.’s current activities, go to Bruce Perlowin’s personal Facebook page where he posts daily on all the activity Hemp, Inc. is doing around the country. (No other public company has this level of transparency than Hemp, Inc.)
THE UPCOMING DOCUSERIES
Hemp, Inc. entered into an agreement with 2 Manifest Studio, LLC, a Wyoming, Limited Liability Company (VED), to create a documentary and subsequent docuseries over the course of an estimated five years. Per the terms of the agreement, VED will create a feature length film and corresponding docuseries and other video materials about the history of hemp with a strong focus on Hemp, Inc. and other pioneers and companies that are leaders in the modern-day history of industrial hemp. The content will be wholly-owned by Hemp, Inc. 2 Manifest Studio Director Joseph Trivigno and his team have been tracking Hemp, Inc.’s progress, as executives meet with farmers throughout the country to document the company’s expansion into new markets. The documentary is expected to be released by 2020. The docuseries is expected to follow the film’s release. The film crew will also capture hemp developments in markets around the globe.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMP AND MARIJUANA
Hemp is completely different from marijuana in its function, cultivation and application. In cultivating marijuana, the plants are spaced far apart, and the male plants are destroyed to assure that they cannot seed the female plants, which would result in undesirable, less potent and less marketable, seeded marijuana buds. Hemp, on the other hand, is planted close together and commonly hermaphrodites, which creates an abundance of seeds, the main component of Hemp foods and supplements. The Hemp stalks are processed and used for fiber, composite, and other hemp based end products.
Hemp is used in variety of other applications that marijuana couldn’t possibly be used in. These include healthy dietary supplements, skin products, clothing, and accessories. Overall, hemp is known to have over 25,000 possible applications. Hemp products such as Hemp Milk, Hemp Cereal, and Hemp Oil are used by consumers every day.
For an excellent read on the difference between hemp and marijuana, visit the Ministry of Hemp.
HOW HEMP CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Fiber – Hemp fiber can be used to make fabrics and textiles, rope and paper. The word ‘canvas’ actually derives from the word cannabis.
Fuel – While the industrial, medicinal and commercial properties of hemp have been known to mankind for a very long time, its benefits to the environment have just been realized in recent years. One of the compelling things hemp offers is fuel. With reserves of petroleum being depleted, it would be nice if we could have a fuel source which was reusable and which we could grow right here, making us completely energy independent.
Food – Hemp seeds are very nutritious and were first thought to be eaten by the Ancient Chinese and Indians. Hemp seeds have a nutty taste and can be eaten raw, ground up, sprouted, or made into dried sprout powder. Hemp seeds also contain a very beneficial oil that is high in unsaturated fatty acids, including an optimal 1:4 ratio of omega-3 to 6.
Building Material – Hemp can be made into a variety of building materials. These include concrete-like blocks called ‘hempcrete’, biodegradable plastics, and wood replacements. These materials have been used in the manufacture of many things, including electronics, cars and houses. In fact, the first American home made of hemp-based materials was completed in August 2010 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Biofuel – Remarkably, the oil from hemp seeds and stalks can also be made into biofuels such as
Biodiesel — sometimes known as ‘hempoline’. While this biofuel can be used to power engines, it does take quite a lot of raw material to produce a substantial amount.
SUBSCRIBE TO HEMP, INC.’S VIDEO UPDATES
“Hemp, Inc. Presents” captures the historic, monumental re-creation of the hemp decorticator and the hemp grinding and milling facility (which has been operational for 2 ½ years now) as America begins to evolve into a cleaner, green eco-friendly sustainable environment. What many see as the next American Industrial Revolution is actually the Industrial Hemp Revolution. Watch as Hemp, Inc., the No. 1 leader in the industrial hemp industry, engages its shareholders and the public through each step in bringing back the hemp decorticator as described in the “Freedom Leaf Magazine” article “The Return of the Hemp Decorticator” by Steve Bloom.
“Hemp, Inc. Presents” is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by visiting www.hempinc.com. To subscribe to the “Hemp, Inc. Presents” YouTube channel, be sure to click the subscribe button.
HEMP BENCHMARKS
Hemp Benchmarks®, a division of New Leaf Data Services, is a leading provider of financial, business and industry data for the North American hemp markets. They offer comprehensive and unique benchmark services for public and private organizations, and financial institutions. Hemp Benchmarks’ management team has over 100 years of cumulative commodity data services experience, more than 80 years of cumulative hemp and cannabis industry experience and subject matter experts in multiple jurisdictions/geographies. Their September 2019 “Hemp Benchmarks Spot Price Index Report” is a comprehensive and valuable resource that includes the following:
· September Assessed Price by Product Category
· Monthly Biomass Volume Discount Curve
· Wholesale Price Correlation Matrix
· 2019 Biomass Yield & Market Value Estimates
· Comprehensive U.S. State Acreage & License Counts
· USDA & FDA Updates
The downloadable PDF can be accessed here. Be sure to visit their site, www.hempbenchmarks.com.
UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC EVENTS
Across the globe, the hemp industry is rising to astronomical levels. In the wake of the hemp industry projected to grow 700% and hit $1.8 billion by 2020, there has been more education and networking within the industry. That means more events and conferences, thus, Hemp, Inc. has started compiling an ongoing list of upcoming hemp events around the world. Check out the listing of international and domestic events here.
SOCIAL NETWORKS
https://www.facebook.com/KingOfPot (Bruce Perlowin’s Facebook Page)
http://www.facebook.com/hempinc (Facebook)
https://www.hempincpresents.com (Hemp, Inc.’s North Carolina YouTube Channel)
https://www.instagram.com/hempincorporated/ (Hemp, Inc.’s Instagram)
https://twitter.com/HempInc (Hemp, Inc.’s Twitter)
FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER AND DISCLOSURES
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. To clarify the issue of OTC placing a stop sign next to Hemp, Inc.’s stock trading symbol, that symbol indicates Hemp, Inc. does not report their financials. As a non-reporting pink sheet company, Hemp, Inc. is not required to report. The company does, however, choose to publicly report its quarterly and yearly financials on its website. According to the company’s CEO, the OTC stop sign is a misrepresentation of that reporting fact. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties
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How Connecting Children
To Nature Is Good For Both
Plenty of older Americans hold fond childhood memories of climbing trees, catching frogs, and engaging in endless hours of tag or hide-and-seek with friends.
Most children today, though, spend much less time outdoors, with their recreational hours instead devoted to TV, video games and computers, a trend that has nature advocates concerned.
“If they don’t feel a connection to nature, they aren’t going to feel it’s important,” says Clyde Butcher (www.clydebutcher.com), a nature photographer who since the 1980s has helped bring national awareness to the Everglades through stunning black-and-white photographs that have been compared to the works of Ansel Adams.
“The question is, how do we get them to make that connection. The answer is that the responsibility lies with you and me. I think it’s important to educate both kids and grownups about the world’s environmental wonders.”
Advocacy groups are trying to do just that.
The National Wildlife Federation, for example, has a Green Hour program designed to encourage parents, grandparents, schools, and others to adopt a goal of an hour per day for children to play and learn outdoors in nature.
Butcher says that he tries to bring nature to people through his photography in the hopes they will be inspired to experience it for themselves.
“My goal is for them to say, ‘Wow, I want to go there. I want to see the real thing,’ ” he says.
Introducing children to the great outdoors is about more than just building extraordinary memories. Butcher and other nature proponents say benefits include:
Time outdoors can equal happiness. “Nature is one of those things that can really bring your spirits up,” Butcher says. Indeed, studies show that spending time outdoors is good for your mental health, and those who manage to do so are generally happier than those who stay cooped up inside. Butcher does his part to try to put people in touch with nature. Just recently, his gallery in the Big Cypress Swamp in south Florida sponsored a fall festival that included guided swamp-walk tours for children and adults alike. Those swamp walks provide what Butcher thinks of as education by immersion.
Time outdoors makes children healthier. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to children being overweight, which in turn increases their risk for a number of diseases, such as asthma and diabetes. When children spend time outdoors, they are almost certain to get more exercise, reducing those risks. Health professionals also say that, while over exposure to the sun can be harmful, some time absorbing the sun’s rays is helpful in such ways as boosting your body’s vitamin D.
Time outdoors makes children better stewards of the earth. It’s important to protect the environment, and to preserve natural wonders for future generations, but it’s difficult to truly appreciate nature without venturing out into it, Butcher says. Children who take the time to explore what nature has to offer, he says, are more likely to become advocates for protecting it.
“Sometimes, in the abstract, it’s difficult to understand why nature is so important,” Butcher says. “But when children step into it, and see it firsthand, they can fall in love with it. Then they begin to understand.”
About Clyde Butcher
Clyde Butcher (www.clydebutcher.com) is an acclaimed nature photographer who is best known for his striking black-and-white images of the Everglades in Florida. But he has photographed the beauty of nature in other locations as well. For more than 50 years, he has been preserving on film the untouched areas of the landscape. Butcher has been honored by the state of Florida with the Artist Hall of Fame Award. Other major awards and honors include the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North American Nature Photography Association; Humanitarian of the Year for 2005 from the International University; the 2011 Distinguished Artist Award from the Florida House in Washington, D.C.; and the Ansel Adams Conservation Award from the Sierra Club.
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Press Release
Mark Your Calendars, USDA to Open the Application Window for the Second Round of ReConnect Program Funding Friday
WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2020 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced USDA will begin taking applications for the second round of $550 million in ReConnect Program loan and grant funding on January 31. These funds will enable the federal government to continue to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second download and 1 megabit per second upload. Beginning Friday, ReConnect funding applications can be submitted at www.usda.gov/reconnect.
“Reliable, high-speed broadband e-Connectivity is critical for economic prosperity and quality of life, from education to health care to agriculture to manufacturing and beyond,” Secretary Perdue said. “Under the leadership of President Trump, we at USDA are very excited to begin accepting applications for the second round of funds totaling $550 million for this innovative program, which will bring critical infrastructure investments to even more homes, farms, ranches, schools and health care sites in rural America.”
Telecommunications companies, rural electric cooperatives and utilities, internet service providers and municipalities may apply for funding through USDA’s ReConnect Program to connect rural areas that currently have insufficient broadband service. Through the ReConnect Program, USDA is making available approximately $200 million for grants, as well as up to $200 million for loan and grant combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. Funds will be awarded to projects that have financially sustainable business models that will bring high-speed broadband to rural homes, businesses, farms, ranches and community facilities such as first responders, health care sites and schools.
To assist potential providers with their applications, USDA is hosting technical assistance and training webinars across the country. To see an updated list of dates and locations, or to register for a workshop or webinar, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect/events.
So far in round one of the program, USDA has announced $343,429,703 in grant and loan funding for high-speed broadband infrastructure. The funded service areas include a total of 79,534 rural households. USDA will continue to announce round one investment over the course of the coming weeks. To see latest investment information, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect/awardees.
Background:
In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On Dec. 13, 2018, Secretary Perdue announced the rules of the program, called “ReConnect,” including how the loans and grants will be awarded to help build broadband infrastructure in rural America. USDA received 146 applications between May 31, 2019, and July 12, 2019, requesting $1.4 billion in funding across all three ReConnect Program funding products: 100 percent loan, 100 percent grant, and loan-grant combinations. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis. Additional investments in all three categories will be made in the coming weeks.
These grants, loans and combination funds enable the federal government to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 1 Mbps upload.
In December 2019, Agriculture Secretary Perdue announced USDA will be making available an additional $550 million in ReConnect funding in 2020. USDA will make available up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans. The application window for this round of funding will open Jan. 31, 2020. Applications for all funding products will be accepted in the same application window, which will close March 16, 2020.
A full description of 2020 ReConnect Pilot Program funding is available on page 67913 of the Dec. 12, 2019, Federal Register (PDF, 336 KB). To learn more about eligibility, technical assistance and recent announcements, visit www.usda.gov/reconnect.
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 facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
