HARKIN ANNOUNCES OVER $6.6 MILLION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET IN RURAL IOWA COMMUNITIES

http://harkin-press.enews.senate.gov/mail/util.cfm?gpiv=2100053131.540.32&gen=1

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total of $6,651,830 will be coming to Iowa for projects to bring broadband internet access to businesses and residents in rural communities.  The grants and loans are being provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and were funded in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Harkin worked to secure these funds through his role as a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the Recovery Act.

C-M-L Telephone Cooperative Association will receive a $1,519,225 grant and $1,519,225 loan.  Funding will provide services via a fiber optic network to rural communities with high speed internet exceeding 20 Mbps.  The Association is headquartered in the community of Meriden.  It is member owned and serves the communities of Cleghorn, Larrabee and Meriden in Cherokee County, and Archer in O'Brien County.  Along with these communities, it also serves approximately 225 square miles of rural Cherokee and O'Brien counties.

Barn Quilts of O'Brien County Cook Book

http://obriencounty.com/tourism/oc_bq_recipebook.htm

Revolving Loan Fund Meeting

The Revolving Loan Fund Committee met today to review and approve an application for financing.  Project Sponsor was Iowa State Bank of Paullina.  This project will be a great addition to the City of Paullina and the Revolving Loan Fund Committee is very excited to be a part of this new project.  Please check back for more details coming soon.

ENTERPRISE ZONE PROGRAM

O'Brien County is a designated Enterprise Zone helping businesses to Utilize and Rehabilitate Economically Distressed Areas.

Program offers a local property tax exemption, additional funding for training new employees, and a  refund of state sales, service or use taxes  paid to contractors during construction.

Next Enerprise Zone Commission Meeting is scheduled for January 8, 2010 at Primghar City Hall, open to the public.