May 1, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 71 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MICROSOFT TECHSPARK

  (Mr. RIGGLEMAN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RIGGLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with some great news for the 
residents of my district, the Fifth District of Virginia.
  Southern Virginia was selected as Microsoft's newest TechSpark 
community. The goal of the TechSpark program is to accelerate economic 
growth through expanding broadband connectivity, career pathways in 
digital transformation.
  This $5 million investment has a potential to be a game changer for 
southern Virginia, and this project partners perfectly with the work I 
have been doing in Congress providing rural broadband and increasing 
economic opportunities in Southside Virginia.
  Private investment is always encouraged and preferred, but we also 
need to use private-public partnerships to expand access to broadband.
  Communities in my district are in desperate need of broadband access, 
and this investment in South Boston will be an example of how we can 
encourage innovation and spur economic growth that will help families 
around this country.

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