Washington DC - U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Oregon $749,085 in Recovery Act funds to bring broadband internet access to portions of Clackamas County. The Broadband Infrastructure grant and accompanying loan will help the Sandy Broadband Infrastructure Project provide broadband service to the underserved rural area of Sandy.
“This funding will help provide a critical business and economic resource for the citizens of Sandy and rural Clackamas County,” said Merkley. “Our rural communities have been hamstrung by the lack of reliable Internet service and this funding will strengthen the Sandy community by providing small businesses, schools, fire and police stations, and vital public services with improved internet access.”
“Bringing broadband access to Sandy and Clackamas County will do a lot to jumpstart job growth in these rural communities,” said Wyden. “Investing in broadband infrastructure gives rural employers the ability to better compete in a global marketplace and support local jobs. I’m glad to see the Recovery Act is continuing to provide valuable resources to Oregon.”
The Recovery Act funds awarded to the City of Sandy will provide wireless Internet service to rural residents and businesses that have little or no access to broadband services. This service will be provided by the City of Sandy, as a municipal Internet service provider.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture this week awarded over $277 million in rural broadband funding made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. An additional $1.6 million in private investment will be provided in matching funds. Congress provided USDA $2.5 billion in Recovery Act funding to help bring broadband services to rural un-served and underserved communities.
La Ley Estadounidense de Recuperación y Reinversión invierte miles de millones en mejorar la infraestructura de transporte de nuestra nación, promover el desarrollo y la producción de energía limpia y reparar edificios públicos para crear o salvar empleos de inmediato. La legislación reduce los impuestos para el 95 por ciento de los trabajadores y sus familias, incluidos créditos fiscales de $400 por trabajador o $800 por familia. Finalmente, un tercer componente del proyecto de ley proporciona fondos vitales para que los estados eviten despidos estatales y garanticen la continuidad de importantes servicios de salud, educación y vivienda.
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