News
More than $32 million has been awarded to three projects that will leverage private matching dollars to connect over 2,000 farms, homes, and businesses throughout South Dakota.
Underserved South Dakotans in more than half dozen communities now have high-speed broadband in their future thanks to a final round of grant funding recently announced by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED).
The awardees behind the projects selected for grant funding, Gallatin Wireless Internet LLC, Long Lines Broadband, and Santel Communications Cooperative, Inc., will be provided reimbursements based on actual receipts and costs incurred, according to GOED’s Dec. 29 announcement.
A published breakdown of the money awarded on ConnectSD’s website revealed that the largest funding amount went to Gallatin Wireless Internet, which does business as Celerity Internet. In that project, more than $15.2 million was awarded to connect an area from Belle Fourche to the Wyoming border, along with the communities of Spearfish, St. Onge, and Whitewood.
The next most significant chunk of funding was awarded to Santel Communications Cooperative, Inc., which was named the recipient of over $13.4 million in grant funding. Their project, according to GOED’s announcement, will connect the communities of Yankton, Vermillion, Westreville, Greenfield, and Meckling.
Additionally, $3,770,300 was awarded to Long Lines Broadband, which does business as the Jefferson Telephone Company, ConnectSD’s list of project approvals stated. That project has a listed mission of connecting rural Elk Point, specifically the area northeast and west of I-29, Burbank, Junction City, and Richland.
With comments included in GOED’s December announcement, Governor Kristi Noem (R) said the grants will allow more South Dakotans to live and work where they choose.
“South Dakotans shouldn’t have to choose between our small-town way of life and modern-day technological advances,” she said. “We are excited to be connecting so many communities in some very rural areas.”
According to GOED Commissioner Chris Schilken, since the ConnectSD program began in 2019, almost 32,000 South Dakota residents have been connected.
“The ConnectSD broadband program has invested $85 million in state funds to help create a broadband investment across our state, totaling $302 million including other public and private funds,” he said.
