Stakeholder Announcement

Federal Planning Assistance for 

Broadband and Sustainable Community Development

Cool & Connected

USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Brandon McBride encouraged communities 

interested in using broadband service to help revitalize small-town main streets and promote 

economic development to apply for Cool & Connected, a pilot program sponsored by USDA 

Rural Utilities Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Sustainable 

Communities.

Through Cool & Connected, a team of experts will help community members develop strategies

and an action plan for using planned or existing broadband service to promote smart, sustainable

community development. 

Quality broadband access can provide new opportunities for people and businesses. A growing 

number of communities have combined broadband service with other local assets such as 

cultural and recreational amenities to attract and retain investment and people, including young 

people. This can help diversify local economies. Such efforts typically require planning among 

community leaders, businesses, and internet service providers. The Cool & Connected program 

will provide assistance to this end, helping communities take advantage of new or existing 

broadband service to create walkable, connected, economically vibrant main streets and smalltown neighborhoods. 

Eligibility 

 Any community representative is welcome to submit a letter of interest to participate in 

Cool & Connected. 

 Special consideration will be given to small towns and rural communities that face 

economic challenges. 

 Special consideration will be given to communities in places where USDA has provided 

loans or grants in support of broadband or other internet-related services.

Deadline and where to send letters of interest
Submit your letter of interest to Ed Fendley at Fendley.Ed@epa.gov by Wednesday, February 

24, 2016. Kindly include “Cool & Connected” and the name of your community in your e-mail 

subject line. 

What to include in your letter of interest

Your letter of interest can be in the text of an email or an attachment. It should be no longer than 

two printed pages. If you want, you can provide additional letters of support from partners, but 

this is not necessary. 

Community representatives are encouraged to describe community needs and challenges related 

to downtown revitalization or other place-based development, and how a planning process might 

help. You should indicate any areas of interest related to internet service and place-based 

development, such as:

 Using new or existing broadband service to attract new types of businesses to main 

streets or existing rural communities

 Combining internet service with other local amenities to attract new investors, visitors, 

and residents

 Developing or marketing downtown Wi-Fi zones 

 Extending broadband service beyond anchor institutions in ways that promote main street 

development

 Selecting centrally located anchor institutions or community facilities that will receive 

broadband service 

Community representatives submitting letters of interest are also encouraged to indicate partners 

that can be expected to participate in a planning process, such as local internet service providers, 

local officials, business associations, or local schools or colleges. 

# 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, 

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, 

DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 

377-8642 (Relay voice users).