The fifth round of ReConnect opened up in spring 2024. A total of 148 applications were submitted, amounting to $1.97 billion in funding requests. However, only $700 million is available for awards. At the time of recording, only 10-11 awards had been determined, but more are expected to be announced in the coming months. 

James Wilson and Tyler Hayes, RUS representatives for Kentucky and Tennessee respectively, join the podcast to tell us what they are seeing across the landscape and what they are expecting to occur in the future.