Reconnect 100% grant infrastructure investments and jobs act

The Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service awarded Okanogan County Public Utility District NO. 1 a Project Grant of $30.195 million on May 6, 2026, under the Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program (CFDA 10.752), funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The award supports fiber optic and ethernet cabling installation, networking equipment procurement, and retail broadband service delivery to residences, businesses, schools, libraries, and healthcare facilities across underserved rural areas of Okanogan County, Washington. Performance of the work is scheduled to conclude by May 6, 2028.

Okanogan County PUD #1, a local government entity headquartered in Okanogan, Washington, is the recipient. The Rural eConnectivity Pilot Program expands broadband service to rural areas lacking sufficient access, defined at minimum as 25 megabits per second downstream and 3 megabits per second upstream, through loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations awarded competitively based on rurality, number of farms and businesses served, service performance, state broadband activities, and presence of tribal lands.