The Shadow
RICHMOND — The Craig Botetourt Electric Cooperative will receive a $758,998 grant as part of the 2019 Virginia Telecommunication Initiative.
The money will be earmarked for the Botetourt Broadband Project.
Gov. Ralph Northam has announced more than $4.9 million in grants through the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative for 11 projects within 12 counties.
The VATI program provides targeted funding to extend service to areas that are presently unserved by any broadband provider.
“In our 21st century economy, broadband connectivity is tied to every facet of our daily lives, from education to business to health care — that’s why making high-speed internet available to every Virginian, in every region of the commonwealth is a top priority for my administration,” Northam said.
He added: “This funding will help to close the digital divide in Virginia by putting in place the necessary infrastructure to expand affordable and reliable broadband service to currently unserved rural communities.”
The VATI program is a state-funded program administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
The goal of VATI is to create strong, competitive communities throughout the commonwealth by preparing those communities to build, utilize, and capitalize on telecommunications infrastructure.
DHCD allocated grant funding to eligible applicants to provide “last-mile” services to unserved areas of Virginia. The state budget currently includes $19 million in fiscal year 2020 for the VATI program.
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.
An estimated 15,000 households, and 300 businesses, and community anchors will have broadband service available due to these grant awards, along with the public-private partnership involved in each project.
Thirty-one applications requesting more than $10.9 million in funding were received. This year’s funding leverages $9.2 million in local and private sector matching funds.
