<div><p>On August 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the approval of $162.5 million in federal funds for broadband infrastructure and multi-purpose community facility projects in Ohio under the American Rescue Plan’s <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/coronavirus/assistance-for-state-local-and-tribal-governments/capital-projects-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Capital Projects Fund</a>, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda. </p><p>The announcement includes two funding plans: $77.5 million for broadband infrastructure, which the state estimates will connect 15,000 homes and businesses; and $85 million for multi-purpose community facilities, which will bring connectivity to Ohio communities for years to come. </p><p>To date, the Capital Projects Fund has awarded nearly $8 billion for broadband, digital technology, and multi-purpose community center projects in 47 states, which those states estimate will reach over two million locations</p><h3><em>Digital connectivity central to economic opportunity</em></h3><p>“Digital connectivity is central to expanding economic opportunity in communities across the country,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury <strong>Wally Adeyemo</strong>. “This funding is a key piece of the Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments to increase access to high-speed internet for millions of Americans and provide more opportunities to fully participate in the 21st century economy.” </p><p>“Every Ohio family and Ohio business should have reliable, high-speed internet. You shouldn’t have to live in a big city or a wealthy suburb to have access to a crucial aspect of modern society and our economy,” said Sen. <strong>Sherrod Brown</strong>, D-Ohio. “It’s why when we wrote the American Rescue Plan, we made sure that it not only included investment in high speed internet, but that the investment would be focused on places like Ohio, where large portions of the state have been left out.” </p><p>“This investment by the Biden Administration benefits people and businesses across Northwest Ohio by connecting them to vital services to compete in today’s internet age,” said Rep. <strong>Marcy Kaptur,</strong> D-Ohio. “Bringing modern high-speed broadband internet infrastructure to our communities will allow them to compete regionally, nationally, and globally and ensure students in rural areas will have access to 21st century technology. Building our economy from the bottom up and middle out, means leaving no Ohio community behind and this investment helps fulfill that pledge.” </p><p>“The Capital Projects Fund Award for Ohio proves how the Biden-Harris Administration is working hard to improve the livelihoods of Central Ohioans,” said Rep. <strong>Joyce Beatty,</strong> D-Ohio. “This $162.5 million investment of American Rescue Plan funds will aid in expanding broadband infrastructure to communities who need it most, as well as create multi-use community facilities that provide access to education, community health services, and workforce development.” </p><p>“Expanding access to affordable and reliable broadband is a key component of building our economy from the bottom up and the middle out. Broadband shouldn’t be a luxury in 2023. My constituents need fair access to broadband to learn, work, grow their business, and more. This funding is good news for Ohio and good news for people in underserved communities across our state,” said Congresswoman <strong>Shontel Brown</strong>, D-Ohio. </p><p>“Connecting our families to affordable high-speed internet is a big deal. This will connect thousands of folks in rural areas to better healthcare, education, and jobs. We’re so proud to announce these dollars are coming back to Ohio,” said Rep. <strong>Greg Landsman,</strong> D-Ohio. </p><p>“As a former member of the Ohio House of Representatives, I proudly helped lead bipartisan legislation creating the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Program to guarantee all Ohioans have access to affordable, high-speed internet. Now, in Congress, I’m pleased to announce more than $77 million in federal funding to continue investing in and expanding this innovative strategy,” said Rep. <strong>Emilia Sykes</strong>, D-Ohio. </p><p>Ohio is approved to receive $77.5 million for <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/OH-301_Fact_Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">broadband infrastructure projects</a>, which the state estimates will connect 15,000 homes and businesses to affordable, high-speed internet. This funding will go toward the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant Program (ORBEG), a competitive broadband grant program designed to fund last-mile broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas currently lacking access to reliable, high-speed internet. </p><p>Ohio will invest an additional $85 million of CPF funding in Ohio’s <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/OH-302_Fact_Sheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Appalachian Community Innovation Campuses Program</a>, a competitive grant program that provides funding to eligible counties within the Appalachian region to construct multi-purpose facilities designed to increase access to education, community health services, and workforce development opportunities. Each campus will provide public education to students across a minimum of six grade levels, health services in partnership with a healthcare provider, and a return-to-work site with internet access. Together, these projects represent 61 percent of the state’s total allocation under the CPF program. </p><p>The Treasury Department began announcing <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1526" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">state awards in June 2022</a>. Of the nearly $8 billion awarded by the department for broadband, digital technology, and multi-purpose community center projects in 47 states, states estimate that the broadband investments will reach more than two million locations. </p><p>The Treasury Department will continue approving state and Tribal plans on a rolling basis.</p><a class="embed" href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1692" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Treasury Department Announces Approval of Federal Funds to Connect Tens of Thousands of Ohio Homes and Businesses to Affordable, High-Speed Internet as Part of President Biden's Investing in America Agenda</a><p><br></p></div>

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Treasury Department announces $162 million in funds for broadband in Ohio

<div>An Ohio County has hired Ohio Transparent Telecom to provide broadband to up to 8,000 residents in unserved and underserved areas of the county.<span data-trix-cursor-target="left" data-trix-serialize="false">﻿</span><action-text-attachment sgid="BAh7CEkiCGdpZAY6BkVUSSIwZ2lkOi8vanVtcHN0YXJ0LWFwcC9FbWJlZC81NTYyNTg_ZXhwaXJlc19pbgY7AFRJIgxwdXJwb3NlBjsAVEkiD2F0dGFjaGFibGUGOwBUSSIPZXhwaXJlc19hdAY7AFQw--8369fa5901e4306c01e372f643a7b0542ef87a54" content-type="embed"></action-text-attachment><span data-trix-cursor-target="right" data-trix-serialize="false">﻿</span>In a November 1, 2022, announcement, officials with the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners said the service would include fixed wireless broadband service in New Lyme, Cherry Valley and Richmond Townships.</div><div> </div><div>The project will use current towers in New Lyme and Cherry Valley. A micro-tower will be built in Richmond Township. The project is expected to cost $636,000.</div><div> </div><div>"This is a big step, and hopefully it will be successful, and lead to further developments that can improve broadband accessibility for our county residents," Commissioner <strong>J.P. Ducro </strong>told GovTech. "The most exciting thing for me about this is that for people that really have financial restraints, there's the opportunity for this to be free for them.”<span data-trix-cursor-target="left" data-trix-serialize="false">﻿</span><action-text-attachment sgid="BAh7CEkiCGdpZAY6BkVUSSIwZ2lkOi8vanVtcHN0YXJ0LWFwcC9FbWJlZC81NTYyNTM_ZXhwaXJlc19pbgY7AFRJIgxwdXJwb3NlBjsAVEkiD2F0dGFjaGFibGUGOwBUSSIPZXhwaXJlc19hdAY7AFQw--dfc28f43fbf0b12be904156ecaca161e1c9dc5ce" content-type="embed"></action-text-attachment><span data-trix-cursor-target="right" data-trix-serialize="false">﻿</span><br><br></div>

New broadband expansion in Ashtabula County, Ohio

Peter Voderberg

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