Rural economy strengthened as 5k+ Grant and LaSalle homes and businesses gain broadband access
BATON ROUGE, La. (Feb. 5, 2026) — Broadband access took a major step forward in Grant and LaSalle parishes today as state and local leaders, alongside Swyft Fiber, announced the completion of projects delivering reliable, high-speed service to more than 5,000 homes and businesses and reinforcing the education, health care and manufacturing sectors that drive the local economy.
The project was funded through the Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) 1.0 program, administered by ConnectLA, and delivers access to 1,707 locations in Grant Parish and 3,442 locations in LaSalle Parish. The GUMBO 1.0 program, supported by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund, provides competitive grants to internet service providers to deploy broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas across Louisiana.
“Grant and LaSalle parishes run on hard work, from the timber crews and sawmills to the schools and small businesses that keep these communities strong,” said Gov. Jeff Landry. “More than 5,000 homes and businesses across both parishes can now access reliable, high-speed internet, helping rural communities like Jena and Colfax stay competitive and supporting the folks making a living off the land while students build their future close to home. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved in these efforts, including President Trump and the Louisiana delegation, for helping deliver results for these communities.”
“GUMBO is delivering real results for communities across Louisiana,” said Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of ConnectLA. “These projects in Grant and LaSalle are expanding access for students, supporting health care providers and helping local employers grow. Our team at ConnectLA is thankful for the support of Gov. Landry; Reps. Firment and Riser; and Sens. Luneau, Morris and Womack as we continue working to close remaining gaps and ensure every community has the infrastructure needed to compete and thrive.”
The GUMBO 1.0 program represents a $176 million investment to expand broadband access across 48 parishes, connecting more than 65,000 locations statewide. Through this initiative, ConnectLA partners with internet service providers to deliver high-speed internet to rural and underserved communities, helping drive economic growth, improve education and healthcare access and enhance overall quality of life.
"Every community deserves quality broadband infrastructure,” said Jason Hunt, CEO of Swyft Fiber. “These projects represent a significant investment in Louisiana's future. Grant and LaSalle parishes now have fiber built to last. We're grateful to Gov. Landry and ConnectLA for their partnership in connecting communities across the state."
“This milestone reflects years of collaboration, persistence and a shared dream for the future of Grant and LaSalle parishes,” said state Rep. Gabe Firment. “Most importantly, it shows that this historic investment in rural communities across Louisiana is making a real difference, especially in these parishes, where students, families, small businesses and first responders are already benefitting from affordable, reliable high-speed internet. I want to extend a special thank you to the Grant and LaSalle police juries and the LaSalle Economic Development District for their vision and willingness to invest in this project, along with every parish official and the many citizens who stood with us and advocated for better connectivity across Grant Parish. I also want to thank Veneeth Iyengar with ConnectLA, who came to Grant Parish on his third day on the job to meet with parish leaders in my Pollock office and assured us this day would come. We are also grateful to Swyft Fiber and Jason Hunt for their commitment to these parishes, and to Gov. Landry for his leadership and continued commitment to rural Louisiana. Together, these efforts turned a long-standing goal into a reality we celebrate today.”
“Today’s ribbon cutting is about delivering for the people of Louisiana, not just talking,” said state Rep. Neil Riser. “This ribbon cutting reflects Gov. Landry’s commitment to delivering real infrastructure investments for rural Louisiana. I appreciate the state’s leadership and the local partners who helped make this project a reality for Grant and LaSalle parishes.”
“Access to dependable internet service matters for daily life in LaSalle Parish,” said state Sen. Glen Womack. “This project brings better connectivity to our communities and supports schools, health care providers and local businesses.”
“Reliable broadband is necessary for economic growth and long-term planning,” said state Sen. Jay Morris. “By expanding service to more homes and businesses, this project helps position Grant Parish for future development and increased opportunity.”
“This investment expands reliable connectivity to more parts of Grant Parish,” said state Sen. Jay Luneau. “Closing gaps in broadband access strengthens the parish as a whole and improves quality of life for our communities.”
Efforts like this show how Louisiana continues to lead the nation in broadband expansion. The state was the first in the country to receive award approval from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund and federal approval of its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) final proposal, setting a national example for coordinated, community-driven connectivity.
To see how broadband investments are connecting communities across Louisiana, visit connect.la.gov.
About ConnectLA
The Louisiana Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity (ConnectLA) leads the state’s efforts to expand high-speed internet access and close the digital divide. Housed within the Louisiana Division of Administration, ConnectLA works across federal, state and local partners to identify and implement strategies that ensure every resident can benefit from reliable broadband connectivity. For more information, visit connect.la.gov.