The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Working for Rural Communities

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack issued a report which shows that Recovery Act investments are renewing our Nation's rural areas and providing benefits to the 50 million people who live there. The report, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Working for Rural Communities, shows Federal investments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) are helping rural communities in all 50 states and in territories extending from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to Guam. Consistent with the plan President Obama laid out, Recovery Act projects are investing now in rural innovation through clean energy research and technology, in rural education through school improvements and educational reforms, and through the modernization and renewal of transportation, community facilities, water and broadband systems.

The Recovery Act is providing nearly 7 million rural residents with improved broadband Internet access through investment from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) in broadband infrastructure. The USDA's Rural Utilities Service targeted its $3.5 billion in Recovery Act loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to the hardest-to-reach rural areas of the country. In total, RUS invested in 297 broadband infrastructure projects, 4 broadband-via-satellite projects, and 19 technical assistance grants to extend the benefits of broadband to rural communities and Native American lands in 45 States and 1 U.S. Territory. These RUS investments will bring broadband to approximately 2.8 million households, 364,000 businesses, and 32,000 anchor institutions across rural America. These projects also overlap with 31 tribal lands and 125 persistent poverty8 counties. Estimated to create more than 25,000 immediate and direct jobs9, these projects are also expected to contribute to the long-term economic development opportunities in each rural community where a broadband project is launched. These connections will help existing business owners tighten their distribution channels, increase efficiencies, and expand their market reach, enabling a new generation of entrepreneurs to thrive in rural areas. American farmers and ranchers can use broadband to monitor product prices, obtain weather forecasts, buy and sell commodity futures, track the progress of supplies ordered or products shipped, and find markets for their produce and livestock. Broadband availability will also enhance the attractiveness of these areas to firms able to operate remotely. Rural communities linked to broadband will be able to host call centers, information technology hotlines, and other industries that require remote connection to businesses.