Telecommunications and Airport Improvements in Corridor

Eastern Iowa Airport Works on Runway; Swisher Improves Telecommunications

Swisher Telephone Co. receives $7 million government loan

Swisher Telephone Co., 980 N. Front St. in North Liberty has received a $7 million loan from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development, awarded the loan through its telecommunications program.

Swisher Telephone Co. will use the funds to buy and upgrade facilities to provide service to 779 subscribers and make system improvements, including fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) facilities.  

The telecommunications program provides programs to finance rural infrastructure, including loans to fund the costs of constructing, improving and acquiring facilities to provide broadband service to eligible rural communities.

2nd runway reopens at Eastern Iowa Airport

Eastern Iowa Airport Director Tim Bradshaw says officials are breathing a sigh of relief now that the airport’s second runway has reopened.

The Cedar Rapids airfield was down to one runway for about 25 days as part of a larger construction project.

The second runway reopened Friday.

Bradshaw says the extra runway is an important backup in case of emergencies and for air traffic control. The runway also allows aircraft to land into the wind.

Crews have been working on the airport’s main runway.

Bradshaw says the paving project is 70 percent done, and up to 90 percent of the runway’s surface has been poured.