Title
Vote on a request to authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement or memorandum of understanding with one or more internet service providers that would use Chatham County American Rescue Plan funds to support applications for Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (G.R.E.A.T.) grants, with the condition that an agreement or memorandum of understanding may not commit, or state an intent to commit, more than 50% of the grant match or an amount that exceeds $1,000,000
Abstract
Action Requested: Vote on a request to authorize the County Manager to negotiate and execute an agreement or memorandum of understanding with one or more internet service providers that would use Chatham County American Rescue Plan funds to support applications for Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (G.R.E.A.T.) grants, with the condition that an agreement or memorandum of understanding may not commit, or state an intent to commit, more than 50% of the grant match or an amount that exceeds $1,000,000
Introduction & Background: The GREAT grant is a state-level effort to facilitate economic development through the deployment of broadband to unserved areas of the state. Private internet service providers (ISPs) are eligible to submit project for consideration of state funding through this grant opportunity. Locations with unserved areas without access to internet speeds of at least 25:3 within Tier 1, 2 and rural census tracts in Tier 3 counties are eligible for project proposals through this grant. A single grant award cannot exceed $4 million, and the ISP is subject to funding a match for the awarded project. Minimum speeds of 100:20, scalable to 100 symmetrical by Dec. 31, 2026, is required of any awarded project/ISP.
As this is a competitive grant, each ISP submitting project proposals for grant funding is seeking to make its application as competitive as possible. Each proposal is scored by a point system. A proposed project ...
Click here for full text