January 15, 2025 – Pioneer Connect is proud to announce that they’ve been awarded a US Department of Agriculture grant for $4.4 million to further fiber infrastructure installation for their service area. This is the 4th grant Pioneer Connect has received from the USDA.
This ReConnect 5 grant will help install 15 miles of buried fiber-optic cable as well as 3 miles of aerial cable through difficult terrain. When completed, Pioneer Connect will be able to service 61 eligible locations that previously weren’t able to receive traditional, affordable internet services.
“This USDA fiber-to-the-home grant is a game-changer for our members.” said Jim Rennard, General Manager of Pioneer Connect. “It brings cutting-edge technology right to their doorsteps, transforming how they live, work, and stay connected. It’s all about opening doors—helping businesses grow, making essential services more accessible, and making daily life easier and more convenient. This grant is another step in Pioneer’s commitment to building a stronger, more connected future for the communities we proudly serve.”
“Too often rural and remote communities find that last mile broadband connections are the most difficult to make,” said Margi Hoffmann, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Oregon. “With this funding, Pioneer Connect will bring reliable internet to rural students, businesses, homes, and farms, opening doors to new opportunities and bridging the digital divide so that everyone can benefit from rural innovation.”
This is the 4th grant from the US Department of Agriculture received by the Cooperative for their fiber initiative, having previously been awarded funds from the department’s other grant projects, including Community Connect, ReConnect 3 and ReConnect 4 programs. Pioneer Connect has been awarded over $50M to bring Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) to over 3,100 locations in Benton, Lincoln and Lane counties.
Pioneer Connect’s long-term plan is to replace its copper network with FTTH across its 1,300 square mile service area. Grants such as this help expedite completing the goal of bringing symmetrical broadband speeds up to 1 gig (1,000 megabits per second) to more homes and businesses throughout Pioneer Connect’s service area. Find out more about Pioneer Connect’s services at www.pioneer.net
About Pioneer Connect
Pioneer Connect is a broadband partner providing services to connect your life—delivering phone, internet, and more to our neighbors from the Willamette Valley to the Pacific Ocean. For 75 years, Pioneer has gone the extra mile to make sure each member of our 1,300 square mile service area has the technology they need; providing services to rural homes, businesses, K-12 schools and colleges. Pioneer Connect is building a fiber-optic network to provide their communities with essential phone services and the latest in fast and reliable internet technology. We are proud to be Pioneers for our community.