Waterloo Times

More than $210 million has been disbursed through the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grants Program, Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Office of the Chief Information Officer announced Jan. 4.

A release issued by the governor’s office said the funds for new broadband infrastructure have been awarded to 160 applicants as part of Iowa’s effort to expand broadband, which was announced last October.

“Our commitment to high-speed, reliable broadband for all Iowans continues to make great progress,” Reynolds said in the release. “We’ve received an overwhelming number of applications and funding requests, which highlights the considerable need to expand broadband to all corners of the state. Our investments will help bridge the gap and provide thousands more Iowans the necessary connectivity needed in their homes and communities.”

Projects funded by the grants will infuse more than $526 million of new broadband infrastructure investment to the state, serving over 39,000 homes, schools and businesses, Sheldon’s KIWA Radio reported.

As of Reynolds’s announcement, the Empower Rural Iowa Broadband Grant Program has awarded grant funding that will result in over $880 million in new broadband investment, benefiting nearly 115,000 homes, schools and businesses upon the completion of grant-funded projects, the release said.