Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign a letter of endorsement supporting California State University Chico Geographical Information Center’s proposal to US Economic Development Administration Disaster Recovery for funding to identify high speed broadband connections to fairgrounds and develop designs and cost estimates for a California fairground wireless network.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The El Dorado County Fairgrounds was recently contacted by California State University Chico Geographical Information Center (Chico State) and CA Fairs Financing Authority (CFFA) to support a grant proposal to the US Economic Development Administration Disaster Recovery (EDA).
The proposal is for a statewide project that would assess broadband connectivity at fairgrounds and develop designs and cost estimates for a wireless network across each fairground for the purpose of emergency response and economic development. High speed connections to serve first responders and provide wireless internet access to evacuees during disasters would enhance the County’s ability to manage response and recovery during disasters. The connections could also allow alternative uses of the fairgrounds to support economic development.
If the project is approved and funded, the County would work with CSU Chico and the CFFA to provide information about our fairground and review best practices for fairground-based economic development coupled with high speed broadband. In order to be included in this grant proposal and to for El Dorado County to be approved for funding, the project manager at CSU Chico is requesting a letter of support from the CAO to be included in the application to EDA.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to authorize the letter of support.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Planning and Building
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no direct cost associated with issuing a letter of...
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