(NewsDakota.com/USDA) – USDA is making $714 million dollars in grants and loans available to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers, and business owners to reliable high-speed internet.

“High-speed internet is a key to prosperity for people who live and work in rural communities,” says USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “With this funding, we can ensure that rural communities have the internet connectivity needed to continue expanding the rural economy to make sure it’s a place of opportunity to live, work, and raise a family.” The announcement includes $714 million available for investments in 19 states, including Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, and several others.

USDA continues connecting more and more people to high-speed internet in this fourth funding round of the ReConnect Program. The department has invested in a total of 142 ReConnect projects that will bring high-speed internet access to 314,000 rural Americans.