State Senator Kevin Kinney of District 39 (Washington, Keokuk, Johnson counties) is working to bring new opportunities to Iowa farmers and rural workers.

Kinney says state and local leaders need to expand broadband access, create more jobs in rural Iowa, find more affordable housing, and expand the Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program. He says the benefits will be felt by more than just farmers, “I think if we have a strong rural economy, our schools thrive, there are more kids within the schools, our main street businesses do better.”

Kinney says the need for expanded broadband is at the top of his priority list.  He says with schools being forced into online learning due to COVID-19, it’s become evident there’s a while to go to make internet access more accessible. Kinney says the biggest challenge is that rural areas are the most-expensive areas in which to enhance broadband technology. Kinney says $50,000,000 in federal CARES Act money will help, but the state also needs to be aggressive in landing federal grants for broadband expansion.

The 2021 Iowa Legislative Session is scheduled to convene Monday, January 11.

You can hear more from State Senator Kinney during today’s In Touch with Southeast Iowa on air and at kciiradio.com