Gov. Landry Announces Billion Dollar Internet Expansion

During a press conference on Monday, August 19th, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry announced a new program set to expand broadband internet access across the state. GUMBO 2.0 will allow $1.3 billion in funding work to expand internet access to 140,000 new locations within the state of Louisiana.

The funding for this project came from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, originally titled the INVEST in America Act, which Senator Bill Cassidy secured for the state. "I was proud to be an integral part of securing this money for our state and am thankful to Governor Landry as he puts this $1.35 billion into action, " Dr. Caddisy said.

According to the Governor's Office GUMBO 2.0 will create an economic impact of an added $1.3 billion and will create 8-10 thousand new jobs in the state. The expansion will cover an estimated 100,000 homes, 35,000 businesses, and 4,000 schools, hospitals, and law enforcement offices.

The project's funding will be overseen by the Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (LOBDAC). GUMBO 2.0 is an expansion of the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO 1.0) program, originally providing grant funding to internet providers to expand internet access to underserved areas of the state.

Despite the announcement of GUMBO 2.0 progress from GUMBO 1.0 is still in progress as 18 different internet providers are continuing to use funding from the original program to expand broadband access. GUMBO 2.0 will only further the work of connecting the rest of Louisiana to an ever more connected world.