WASHINGTON, June 17,
2004 – Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman today announced
five regional rural broadband funding workshops for assisting potential
broadband loan applicants with information and technical assistance on
how to apply for broadband infrastructure funding. As part of President
Bush’s goal to expand high-speed access to every household by the
year 2007, USDA Rural Development is aggressively working to provide qualified
borrowers with investment funding needed to expand such infrastructure.
“High-speed Internet access is important to economic development
in rural communities,” said Veneman. “The availability of
advanced technology infrastructure plays a critical role in increasing
economic opportunities and improving the quality of life in rural America.”
Veneman said that the five regional workshops will be detailed, ‘hands-on’
instruction on how to develop an application for Rural Development’s
broadband loan and loan guarantee programs. The workshops will be held
in Chicago, Illinois on June 22nd; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June
24th; Biloxi, Mississippi on June 29th; Portland, Oregon on July 13th;
and Phoenix, Arizona on July 15th.
The workshops will be at no cost to the participants, but since space
is limited, registration prior to the conferences will be required. They
will be targeted to those who are prepared and have the capacity to provide
broadband access to rural parts of the United States.
Discussions will include: what is required
in a market survey; a business plan; how to satisfy credit support requirements
and how to develop financial forecasts and other financial information.
Eligibility will be discussed in terms of broadband services, communities,
technologies, and who qualifies as a borrower.
USDA Rural Development has nearly $2 billion
available for loans and loan guarantees. Details on the specific workshops
are listed below.
Locations and Dates:
The Workshop will begin at 8:30 a.m. local time and will continue until
approximately 5:00 p.m. local time. There will be an hour lunch break.
The Rural Development broadband staff will be available at the same location
from 8:30 a.m. until 12:00 Noon the day after the workshop for individual
guidance by prior appointment.
Chicago, Illinois: June 22, 2004, at SUPERCOMM, Room
S101ab, McCormick Place, Chicago. Register at: shirley.reese@il.usda.gov;
Information: 217-403-6202.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: June 24, 2004, The William
Green Federal Building, 600 Arch Street, 2nd Floor, Conference Room C,
Philadelphia. Register at: kathryn.kauffman@pa.usda.gov;
Information: 717-237-2299.
Biloxi, Mississippi: June 29, 2004, The Biloxi Beachfront
Hotel, 2400 Beach Blvd., Petit Bois conference room, Biloxi. Register
at: bettye.oliver@ms.usda.gov;
Information: 601-965-5460, ext. 153.
Portland, Oregon: July 13, 2004, USDA Rural Development,
One Main Place, 101 SW Main St., 18th floor conference room, Portland.
Register at brian.otten@or.usda.gov;
Information: 503-414-3336.
Phoenix, Arizona: July 15, 2004, USDA Rural Development,
Phoenix Corporate Center, 3003 N. Central Avenue, Suite 675, Phoenix.
Register at rian.clawson@az.usda.gov;
Information: 602-280-8701.
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, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to
finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and
critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information
on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office
or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
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