Bolivar Energy Authority Presented with $20 Million for Broadband Infrastructure
On Friday, October 28, 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) Commissioner Stuart McWhorter presented Bolivar Energy Authority (BEA) with six checks totaling $20,168,743.18 in broadband infrastructure grants for the expansion of internet access.
Read more about when to expect High Speed Internet in Hardeman County.
“People are moving to Tennessee from across the nation in record numbers, and we have an obligation to prepare our state for continued growth,” said Governor Bill Lee. “Our strategic investments in broadband infrastructure will ensure our rural communities are connected and have every opportunity to thrive, and I thank the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group for managing dollars effectively to serve Tennesseans.”
According to the 2020 Broadband Deployment Report published by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), one in six rural Tennesseans lacks access to broadband. Since 2018, TNECD has awarded nearly $120 million in broadband grants through state and federal funding to serve more than 140,000 Tennessee households.
“To achieve economic growth and prosperity, it’s imperative Tennessee’s communities have the proper infrastructure in place,” McWhorter said. “Thanks to the $447 million awarded in funding, broadband access will be available to 36 grantees with 75 projects across 58 Tennessee counties, and we look forward to seeing how these grants spur further success among each community.”
The grant recipients were chosen through a rigorous criterion, which included the need of the grant area, the ability to complete the project, and strong community support. BEA is also receiving community monetary support for the broadband project from the Hardeman County Government, the City of Bolivar, and the Hardeman County Schools.
Funding for these grants comes through the Tennessee Emergency Broadband Fund – American Rescue Plan (TEBF-ARP), which utilizes a portion of the state’s federal American Rescue Plan funds to address the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic and work toward a strong recovery.
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