The Gist: Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has approved preliminary grant awards of almost $15 million for rural broadband internet expansion through the second round of the Capital Projects Fund Grant Program.
The Plan: The plan is part of a push to bring high-speed internet to underserved rural areas. The awarded projects will benefit more than 3,500 locations in four Georgia counties, where reliable internet access has been scarce.
By The Numbers:
- $15 million: Amount of preliminary grant awards for broadband internet access expansion project in four Georgia counties
- $30 million: Amount to be invested, combining preliminary grant funds and capital matches from the awardees
- 3,500: Number of locations that will benefit from the broadband expansion project
- 28: Number of Georgia counties that received preliminary grant funds totaling $234 million in January under the same program
The Locations:
- Calhoun, Windstream, 1,425 locations, $6.3 million
- Echols, Windstream, 420 locations, $1.1 million
- Miller, City of Colquitt, 1,357 locations, $6.2 million
- Webster, Windstream, 299 locations, $985,147
What’s Next: Once the preliminary grant awards are finalized, work on the internet expansion can begin. The project is expected to bring access to high-speed internet to approximately 3,500 locations and improve quality of life in the rural areas of the state.
Thom Chandler
Thom Chandler is the editor of The Georgia Sun and has been writing, editing and managing websites and blogs since 1995. He is a lifelong Georgian and one of those increasingly rare Atlanta natives.
