State Director Reginald Speight and members of North Carolina Rural Development Team recently participated in an obligation of funds-signing ceremony-with Star Communications, in Elizabethtown.

Rural Development is investing $24.9 million through a USDA ReConnect Grant to expand fast, affordable, reliable high-speed internet to socially vulnerable communities of Bladen, Columbus and Sampson Counties.

This network will benefit:

• 2,674 people
• 84 businesses
• 117 farms
• 4 educational facilities

“This rural area of North Carolina has waited and sacrificed too long to receive a service that has become essential for families and business in our country,” said Speight in a press release. “One of the first public events I participated in when I took my job with USDA was obligating $2.4 million to Star Communications to assist them expand the availability of internet into Sampson County. I am proud to represent the Biden-Harris Administration as we continue our partnership with Star Communications with continued expansion into Bladen, Sampson and Columbus Counties with this $24.9 million ReConnect Grant.”

Star Telephone Membership Corporation will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs.
“Star is very grateful to once again be the recipient of a ReConnect Grant. We are thankful for the USDA and their ongoing efforts to expand access to high-speed internet in rural areas,” Star CEO Donna C. Bullard stated in a press release. “Without this program and their assistance, we could not have accelerated our buildout efforts in the way that we have over the past few years. This award is a crowning achievement for Sampson, Bladen and Columbus counties.”