New Virginia broadband expansion to connect over 36K homes, businesses and community groups

CHARLES CITY, Va. — Over $18.3 million in grants has been given to support 12 projects in Virginia to expand broadband service. Governor Ralph Northam made the announcement on Wednesday.

The projects leverage over $35 million in local and private matching funds and will connect approximately 36,000 households, including thousands of businesses and community anchor institutions.

The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative program, the organization the grants came from, provides targeted funding to extend service to areas that are presently unserved by any broadband provider.

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“Broadband is a necessity for communities to attract business, for students to use educational resources, and for Virginians to receive healthcare through telemedicine,” said Governor Northam. “My administration is committed to expanding broadband access to every part of Virginia so that all of our citizens have access to the opportunities that connectivity make possible.”

The Virginia Telecommunication Initiative program is a state-funded program administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The goal of it is to create strong, competitive communities throughout the Commonwealth by preparing those communities to build, utilize and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure.

Here's the projects the $18.3 million will fund:

• Albemarle Broadband Authority: ABBA Century Link VATI 2020: $291,300
• Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission: Virginia Telecommunications Initiative 2020: $2,202,000
• Charles City County: Virginia Telecommunications Initiative 2020: $3,966,012
• Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission: CPC Broadband Expansion – Council to Davenport: $226,560
• Franklin County: Franklin County Broadband Authority: $2,383,039
• Grayson County: Connect Grayson: $1,838,255
• Halifax County: Halifax County MEC/EMPOWER VATI: $710,514
• King and Queen County: $2,020,291
• LENOWISCO Planning District Commission: LENOWISCO Regional Broadband Expansion Phase I: $790,464
• Patrick County: Patrick County Broadband Expansion: $798,283
• Stafford County: Stafford County – KGI VATI 2020: $874,478
• Surry County: Prince George Electric Cooperative: $2,225,000

Projects were selected through a competitive process evaluating each project for demonstrated need and benefit for the community, applicant readiness and capacity, and the cost and leverage of the proposed project. The level of funding awarded is based on the infrastructure needs in the project areas.