State and local leaders will gather next week to celebrate the completion of major broadband expansion projects bringing high-speed internet access to thousands of homes and businesses across Grant and LaSalle parishes.

Officials from ConnectLA, Louisiana’s Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, will join representatives from Swyft Fiber for two public events on Thursday, Feb. 5 marking the successful rollout of new broadband infrastructure funded through the state’s Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) 1.0 program.

The first celebration will take place in LaSalle Parish at 9 a.m. at the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Administration Center, located at 551 Tuska Hina in Trout. A second event will follow in Grant Parish at 11:30 a.m. at Rue22, located at 183 Larue in Dry Prong.

Organizers say the projects represent a major step forward in closing Louisiana’s digital divide, providing residents and businesses with reliable, high-speed internet service that supports education, healthcare, economic development, and daily life.

ConnectLA, which operates under the Louisiana Division of Administration, leads the state’s broadband expansion efforts by partnering with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure connectivity reaches underserved areas.

Community members are encouraged to attend the celebrations and learn more about how broadband access is transforming rural Louisiana.