I have been busy lately writing up posts on projects that received ARRA funding in 2010. It’s kept me busy and it’s been nice to see the fruition of the various projects but it’s made me wonder when we might have another influx of federal funding. Well, it’s hardly the scope of funding we saw a few years ago – and to be fair it’s going to a company based in South Dakota but according to the St Cloud Times, Minnesota will soon see some funding for broadband from the USDA…

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced loans will be issued to four states, including Minnesota, to help finance the construction of broadband networks in rural areas.

Besides Minnesota, the other states receiving aid will be Iowa, Oregon and South Dakota, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture news release.

In South Dakota and Minnesota, Interstate Telecommunications Company, Inc. will receive a $24.9 million loan to upgrade its plant and complete an FTTP, or “fiber-to-the-premises,” network to provide enhanced broadband services for its customers.