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Chief Administrative Office and Planning and Building Department, Economic Development Division, recommending the Board:
1) Accept a grant award from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) in the amount of $3,782,433 in CARES Act Funds for the term of June 28, 2022 through June 28, 2027; and
2) Delegate authority to the Chief Administrative Officer or the Assistant CAO to execute the Grant Agreement and all grant-related documents including, but not limited to, amendments, requests for payment, reports, and all associated documents necessary to secure and expend grant funds for the purpose of implementing the approved Middle-Mile Fiber Optic Project grant program.
FUNDING: CARES Act Funds / Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On September 1, 2015 (File No. 15-1020, Item No. 27), following a presentation on the state of Broadband infrastructure in the County, the Board established a Broadband Technical Advisory Committee (Committee) to work on broadband issues and appointed two (2) Board members to serve on that Committee.
On January 12, 2016 (File No. 16-0006, V1, Item No. 5), the Board adopted Resolution 013-2016, which approved the submittal of an application for an EDA Planning Program and Local Technical Assistance Program Grant to complete a Broadband feasibility study.
On September 27, 2016 (File No. 16-0006, V2, Item No. 25), the Board authorized acceptance of a $75,000 grant award from the EDA Planning Program and Local Technical Assistance Program to conduct a Broadband feasibility study in the County and committed $75,000 for the 50% County match required by the grant. The previously approved Resolution 013-2016 states that improved Broadband service fits strongly within the County’s Economic Development Strategic Plan and that building Broadband capacity in the County is “a way to create and retain jobs, educate and retain students, and position the County in the 21st-century economy.”
A technical adviso...
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