Governor Ivey awards $24.7M in grants to expand broadband internet across Alabama

Last Friday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that she has awarded nearly $25 million in grants to expand broadband services throughout Alabama.

Keep reading for all the details about this program and which counties will benefit.

Plans to expand high-speed internet access

The proposed plan includes nine grants, totaling $24.7 million awarded to broadband providers across the state supporting unserved or underserved areas in the state. While broadband providers will supply access, households and businesses must still pay for connecting to the service.

Funded by the ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division, grants are projected to enable nearly 20,000 households, businesses and community anchors to have high-speed internet access.

“ADECA is honored to be administering this program that will improve the lives of so many Alabamians. It is our goal to carry out our duties with this program efficiently and effectively and in the best manner conceivable so that we reach as many Alabamians as possible.”

  Kenneth Boswell, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director

Comments from Governor Ivey

Including the grants announced Friday, Gov. Ivey has awarded Broadband Accessibility Fund grants totaling $88.6 million to support 109 projects across Alabama since the fund’s start in 2018. 

In a recent press release from the Governor’s Office, Gov. Ivey provided a statement on the broadband expansion project’s goals and progress:

“Broadband continues to be a top priority of my administration, and as we continue to move into these next four years, we’re taking our broadband journey with us. The projects underway reach across the state and will allow better access to opportunities in education, healthcare, business and other normalcies of life. Broadband is vital infrastructure, and our map continues to light up. I am pleased to support these transformative projects as we work toward achieving high-speed internet availability for every Alabamian.”

Governor Kay Ivey

In a press conference with Gov. Ivey earlier this year, privately-owned telecommunications and technology company, C-Spire, also announced plans to invest $1 billion over the next three years to accelerate the deployment of all-fiber Gigabit broadband internet in Alabama and Mississippi.

Counties receiving grants

Here’s a full breakdown of the counties receiving grants:

• Cullman, Morgan and Winston counties- $4.58 million
• Winston County (Double Springs and Lynn)- $351,119
• Tuscaloosa County- $2.45 million
• Shelby County- $2.92 million
• Baldwin and Escambia counties- $4.05 million
• Baldwin County (Robertsdale)- $2.91 million
• Mobile County (Grand Bay and Wilmer)- $3.11 million
• Mobile County (Mount Vernon)- $3.31 million

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