MONTGOMERY, September 30, 2008 - Steve Pelham, State Director of USDA Rural Development, presented checks representing $1.3 million in grants to education and healthcare providers in six Alabama counties and a $49.2 million broadband telecommunications loan to International Broadband Electric Communications (IBEC) headquartered in Huntsville with its operations center in Hokes Bluff.
"These successful telecommunication projects represent USDA Rural Development's continued commitment to help develop sustainable partnerships that are committed to improving education, health care and broadband services in rural Alabama," said Pelham.
"These investments will have a positive impact to help insure that the necessary infrastructure and technology is developed to meet future demands and challenges while improving the quality of life for rural families, businesses and patients."
Distance Learning grants were awarded to the
Conecuh County Board of Education ($327,413)
Fayette County Board of Education ($219,484)
Perry County School District ($77,339)
Telemedicine grants were awarded to:
Randolph Medical Center in Roanoke ($171,530)
Southwest Alabama Mental Health/Mental Retardation Board in Monroeville ($409,078)Wiregrass Mental Health Board in Dothan ($88,273)
These grant funds will be used to increase educational opportunities and improve medical services throughout rural Alabama. Applications for distance learning and telemedicine grants compete nationally for funding.
Nationwide, 105 recipients received grants totaling $28.2 million through USDA Rural Development's Distance Learning/Telemedicine Program during FY 2008.
International Broadband Electric Communications, Inc., (IBEC) headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, with its operations center in Hokes Bluff, Alabama, was selected to receive a $49.2 million loan to construct a broadband over power line (BPL) network.
The company will partner with 13 electric utilities to provide BPL service to their members in eight states to connect 41,386 subscribers.
The states are Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. In FY 2005, IBEC received a $19.2 million loan from USDA Rural Development to provide a broadband over power line network through three electric utilities in Alabama, Virginia and Indiana to connect 20,757 subscribers.
These loans are provided through USDA Rural Development's Broadband Loan and Loan Guarantee Program, which provides low-interest loans to deploy broadband and telecommunications services to rural communities of 20,000 residents or less, with first priority going to areas without broadband.
USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents.
Rural Development has invested more than $90 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure.
More than 1.7 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA Rural Development's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.
Web Producer- Brett Haas
