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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">Greetings,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">For those that might find a funding opportunity for community broadband in rural areas of interest, please read on:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">A Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) was issued on 3/15 by USDA Rural Development for its
<i>Community Connect Grant Program</i>. <b>This program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service.</b> Find more information and application materials at:
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">           
<a href="https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants">https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">There will be two informational webinars regarding this program:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1F4E79"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">April 5<sup>th</sup> from 1:00 to 2:00 pm EDT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><![if !supportLists]><span style="font-family:Symbol;color:#1F4E79"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">        
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">April 10<sup>th</sup> from 1:00 to 2:00 pm EDT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will host webinars focused on the Community Connect Grant Program. These webinars will inform participants about the major eligibility and regulatory
 requirements of the program and will provide detailed guidance on how to submit a successful application. There will also be time for participants to ask the speakers specific questions about putting together an application.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">You can register for the April 5<sup>th</sup> session
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMzE5Ljg3MjAwODQxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDMxOS44NzIwMDg0MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTkzNDU2JmVtYWlsaWQ9am9lLmJyYWRsZXlAd2RjLnVzZGEuZ292JnVzZXJpZD1qb2UuYnJhZGxleUB3ZGMudXNkYS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&101&&&https://cc.readytalk.com/r/5pj6gcnhk5hb&eom">
here</a> and the April 10<sup>th</sup> session <a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMzE5Ljg3MjAwODQxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDMxOS44NzIwMDg0MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTkzNDU2JmVtYWlsaWQ9am9lLmJyYWRsZXlAd2RjLnVzZGEuZ292JnVzZXJpZD1qb2UuYnJhZGxleUB3ZGMudXNkYS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&102&&&https://cc.readytalk.com/r/54s0o7ogdupz&eom">
here</a>. We recommend you do this registration early and run a system check to ensure quick access on the day of the webinar.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">If the above registration link does not work, please copy & paste
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMzE5Ljg3MjAwODQxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDMxOS44NzIwMDg0MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTkzNDU2JmVtYWlsaWQ9am9lLmJyYWRsZXlAd2RjLnVzZGEuZ292JnVzZXJpZD1qb2UuYnJhZGxleUB3ZGMudXNkYS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&103&&&https://cc.readytalk.com/r/5pj6gcnhk5hb&eom">
https://cc.readytalk.com/r/5pj6gcnhk5hb&eom</a> into your browser for the April 5<sup>th</sup> session or
<a href="http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgwMzE5Ljg3MjAwODQxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MDMxOS44NzIwMDg0MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE2OTkzNDU2JmVtYWlsaWQ9am9lLmJyYWRsZXlAd2RjLnVzZGEuZ292JnVzZXJpZD1qb2UuYnJhZGxleUB3ZGMudXNkYS5nb3YmdGFyZ2V0aWQ9JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&104&&&https://cc.readytalk.com/r/54s0o7ogdupz&eom">
https://cc.readytalk.com/r/54s0o7ogdupz&eom</a> for the April 10th session.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">Questions?
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79">Please contact the RUS at
<a href="mailto:deborah.anderson@wdc.usda.gov">deborah.anderson@wdc.usda.gov</a> or
<a href="mailto:gayle.buckner@wdc.usda.gov">gayle.buckner@wdc.usda.gov</a> or call (202) 720-0800 with any questions about these events.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black">Darci Hanning, MLIS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F4E79">Technology Development Consultant</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F4E79"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#2E74B5"><a href="mailto:darci.hanning@state.or.us"><span style="color:#2E74B5">darci.hanning@state.or.us</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F4E79">
<b>|</b> 503-378-2527 <b>|</b></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#2E74B5">
<a href="http://www.oregon.gov/osl/ld"><span style="color:#2E74B5">www.oregon.gov/osl/ld</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#1F4E79">
</span><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%;color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#1F4E79">Ask me about the
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