A rural internet provider in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties was awarded a combination $11.4 million grant and loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network.

Spring Grove Communications will use the funding from the USDA ReConnect Program to connect 983 people, 42 businesses and 122 farms to high-speed internet in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties in Iowa and...