USDA loan program to expand high-speed internet access to seven western Wisconsin counties

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WEAU) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is announcing more than $14.5 million in USDA financing for a West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative project that will expand fiber-to-the-premises high-speed internet across seven rural Wisconsin counties.

The funding comes from the USDA’s Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees program. Additional information about the program is available HERE.

According to a press release from the USDA, the project will improve internet access for residents, businesses, farms, and schools in Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix counties.

“This project is about more than broadband. It is about connecting people across these seven counties to greater opportunities and economic growth,” said U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Wisconsin State Director Andrew C. Iverson. “USDA’s investment in high-speed internet infrastructure will expand access to healthcare and educational opportunities, strengthen business connectivity, and support job creation, helping rural communities connect, compete, and thrive in an increasingly digital world.”

PRESS RELEASE: USDA Invests $14.5 Million to Expand High-Speed Internet in Seven Wisconsin Counties | Rural Development