Tune in for webinar -- or head to regional workshops -- on rural broadband grant and loan program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Rural Development will host a webinar and several regional workshops to help community leaders learn more about a new federal program aimed at expanding rural broadband. The ReConnect program, which begins accepting applications today, will administer up to $600 million in grants and loans for rural broadband buildout.

The webinar will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, April 26 and will take about an hour. You can register for the webinar here. If you're unable to tune in, a recording of the webinar will be released online later. Learn more about the webinar here.

Here are the two-day regional workshops scheduled thus far. These intensive workshops will help attendees navigate the application process. Learn more or register here.

• April 23-24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Welches, Oregon
• May 8-9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, in Auburn, Alabama
• May 15-16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Alexandria, Minnesota.