By MICHAEL DORA

Indiana State Director

USDA Rural Development

Some people remember when many rural households didn’t have electricity or running water. Although those days are long gone for most, there’s still a lot of room for improvement. In fact, our American infrastructure used to be the envy of the world, but now it’s in disrepair.

This is why President Trump has made it a priority to rebuild America’s infrastructure. He proposes to devote $50 billion, which is 25 percent of new federal money, to improving infrastructure in rural America. This is an unprecedented commitment. His proposal will stimulate at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next decade.

As Congress takes up the President’s infrastructure proposal, I am delighted to share with you some great news right now. Included in the FY 2018 budget bill that Congress just passed and President Trump signed in March is a robust investment of $600 million in rural broadband. These funds will serve as a “down payment” on the President’s full, comprehensive infrastructure funding proposal that will be further deliberated over the coming months.

USDA will use these new rural broadband funds to administer a new program that will begin to meet the Administration’s goals of bringing reliable and affordable broadband e-Connectivity to America’s rural towns, cities and tribal areas.

Today, 80 percent of the 24 million American households that do not have 21st century high-speed internet are in rural areas, according to the Federal Communications Commission. That is unacceptable.

America can do better for our rural citizens and for rural production sites that need e-Connectivity to continue to supply the nation and the world with food, fiber, minerals and manufactured products.

As we set up the new program, USDA will work diligently to ensure that the broadband e-Connectivity projects provide the most “bang for the buck” and improve access for as many rural American homes, businesses, farms, schools and health care centers as possible.

Every day, I see firsthand the tremendous difference USDA has made over the decades by investing in rural infrastructure. Here in Indiana, for example, USDA helped Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corp. in Brownstown, Ind. With a $74 million USDA loan, the utility will build 84 miles of line and improve 32 miles to provide reliable, affordable electricity to 20,000 residential and business consumers. The loan includes $59.3 million for smart grid technologies.

These investments are the result of strong partnerships that USDA has formed over the years with local business and civic leaders.

In addition to providing infrastructure financing, USDA is addressing statutory changes, regulatory relief and cultural shifts to help improve the way the Federal government serves its citizens. This approach is consistent with the Secretary’s priorities: Infrastructure, Partnerships and Innovation. All three are needed to rebuild this great nation.

During the next few weeks and months – and throughout my term – I will be meeting with business owners, developers, elected officials and rural residents to learn about your infrastructure needs and concerns. I want to hear from you about what’s working – and what we can do better.

Here’s how you can help: Please contact me or our team of specialists in Indiana to let us know of your community’s infrastructure needs.

Together, we can ensure that USDA investments in rural infrastructure will create jobs, expand economic opportunities and help ensure that rural communities continue to be great places to live, work, start a business and raise a family.

It’s an honor to serve you.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World.