Twelve North Carolina counties will share $23.4 million to expand Internet service to 7,000 households and 374 businesses, Gov. Roy Cooper announced. The Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants were awarded to the following counties:
- Alexander County: Yadkin Valley TMC (Yadtel | Zirrus)
- Avery County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC
- Bertie County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC
- Chowan County: ATMC (Focus Broadband)
- Clay County: Blue Ridge Mountain EMC
- Cleveland County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC
- Davidson County: Yadkin Valley TMC (Yadtel | Zirrus)
- Gaston County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC
- Hyde County: Connect Holding II LLC (Brightspeed)
- Lincoln County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC
- New Hanover County: Spectrum Southeast, LLC
- Stanly County: Windstream North Carolina, LLC
“Reliable and affordable high-speed internet is a necessity for all North Carolinians to work, learn, connect and access online health care,” Cooper said. “These GREAT grants awards will help thousands more North Carolina families and businesses across the state access high-speed internet and the opportunities it brings.”
The grants are part of Governor Cooper’s plan to invest nearly $2 billion in federal and state funds to close the digital divide in North Carolina.
NCDIT received 305 applications for this $350 million round of GREAT grants, and internet service providers submitted proposals for projects that would serve more than 487,000 homes and businesses.
Applications are scored based on the number of households and businesses they propose to serve, the average cost to serve those locations and the speeds offered.
For more information about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity, please visit https://www.ncbroadband.gov/.