RICHMOND — Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, children did their schoolwork at McDonald’s and workers sat outside of libraries to check their emails. Internet was important before the pandemic, but the
CARES Money for Broadband: Insights Gained from County Projects
The proposition of pursuing funding for broadband can seem unwise when a short timeline is involved. Here are lessons learned from counties that had to spend CARES dollars in the face of a fast construction deadline. Shutterstock
In 2020, states directed millions of Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds toward broadband infrastructure. While any money for high-speed Internet is a good thing, these dollars initially came with an aggressive December 2020 deadline, meaning that some local stakeholders were better positioned than others to take on the timeline burden.
Jessica Fowler is the chief client officer for Lit Communities, a company that helps local areas plan for and deploy fiber networks. She said the CARES legislation was well intentioned, but she felt it wasn’t written with a firm understanding of what it takes to complete a connectivity project. In order to use t
Widespread access to broadband internet is essential for the present and future economy of Roanoke County, county leaders say.
With a large number of home-based businesses and several county-owned locations primed for development, high-speed internet access is an expectation for professionals in Roanoke County, said Jill Loope, county director of economic development.
âBroadband is critical modern infrastructure, both for economic development, and for livability in general,â Loope said. âItâs the modern day infrastructure everyone needs and wants.â
For prospective investors considering prepared sites and business parks in Roanoke County, an essential question is whether internet is readily accessible, Loope said.
Mitigating the effects of the pandemic, bringing passenger rail to the New River Valley, expanding rural broadband service and protecting economic development money for far Southwest Virginia are on the
Gov. Ralph Northam unveiled his proposed changes to the stateâs two-year budget, which include funding for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations and other pandemic assistance and $50 million to advance a goal to extend Amtrak passenger rail service to the New River Valley.
New River Valley government and community leaders have been eager to restore passenger rail to the region to boost economic development and provide long-distance transportation for students enrolled at Virginia Tech and Radford University.
âIâm really excited about this, and I know people in the New River Valley are, too,â said Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, a longtime advocate of bringing a passenger train to the New River Valley. âThis is the shot in the arm we needed to get passenger rail to that area.â