Grant Helps To Bring Fiber Internet To Portion of Northwest Illinois

A $2.3 million grant will bring fiber internet to more than 220 homes, businesses and community institutions in rural Jo Daviess County. Local energy cooperative Jo-Carroll Energy has announced that it received a Community Connect Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund the rural broadband expansion. Sand Prairie, the cooperative’s broadband division, will use the $2.3 million in grant funds to construct nearly 80 miles of fiber to approximately 220 premises. The affected sites are located south of Scales Mound and in Schapville, an unincorporated community just east of The Galena Territory. the project will provide much-needed service to those who live outside the village of Scales Mound.