Congressman James L. Nelligan announced today the Palmerton Telephone Company will receive at $6,468,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to finance facilities to connect 1,400 new subscribers and improve service for the 6,500 current subscribers.

Nelligan said the project includes construction of 43 miles of new line and renovation of the Palmerton headquarters building.

The principal areas that will benefit from the project are Palmerton, Bowmanstown, Kunkletown and Kresgeville.

The loan, which carries an interest rate of 11.25 percent over 35 years, will be provided by the Rural Telephone Bank of the department’s Rural Electrification Administration.