(Washington, D.C., October 21, 2019) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in South Carolina TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 22nd and Georgia Wednesday, October 23rd.
Secretary Perdue to participate in ReConnect Announcement Ceremony
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will participate in a Reconnect Announcement Ceremony. This ReConnect Program Grant will increase e-connectivity, benefitting households in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. Following the event, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability in the Conference Room.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 22nd beginning at 11:00am ET.
WHERE: Hearing Room, Orangeburg County Administration Building, 1437 Amelia Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115
Secretary Perdue to tour Till Farm
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will tour Till Farm. Following the tour, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Tuesday, October 22nd beginning at 2:10pm ET.
WHERE: Till Farm, 1384 Till Rd, Orangeburg, SC 29115
Secretary Perdue to speak at Southeast U.S.-Japan Association (SEUS-Japan) Annual Meeting
WHAT: Secretary Perdue will deliver remarks at the Southeast U.S.-Japan Association (SEUS-Japan) Annual Meeting Closing Ceremony. Following the event, Secretary Perdue will hold a media availability in the Harbor A Ballroom.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 23rd beginning at 9:00am ET.
WHERE: The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa, 1 Resort Drive, Savannah, GA 31421
Background on ReConnect Announcement:
Secretary Perdue will announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested millions of dollars in high-speed broadband infrastructure which will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 3,911 rural households in South Carolina. This is the second of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments. In March 2018, Congress provided $600 million to USDA to expand broadband infrastructure and services in rural America. On December 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% loan, 100% grant, and loan-grant combination. USDA is reviewing applications and announcing approved projects on a rolling basis. Additional investments in all three categories will be made on a rolling basis 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 download and 1 megabit per second upload.
*NOTE: Media interested in attending must RSVP to press@xxxxxxxxxxx by TODAY, October 21st at 5:00pm ET.
