Tens of millions of dollars are coming from the USDA to southern Illinois to improve broadband connections. The USDA says more than $46 million will be invested to bring high-speed internet to nearly 400 farms, almost five hundred businesses, and dozens of schools. Republican Congressman Mike Bost says recent events have exposed the continued digital divide in rural areas.

The funds, broken up into grants and forgivable loans will be invested in parts of Saline, Williamson, Franklin, White, Crawford, and Lawrence counties.