Title
Broadband Ad Hoc Committee, in coordination with the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file a presentation from NEO Connect regarding grant opportunities for Broadband implementation in one or more specific priority areas;
2) Approve and authorize staff to submit an application for the Economic Development Administration CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant (Funding Opportunity Number PWEAA2020);
3) Provide direction to staff regarding how much County match is authorized, and for which priority area(s), choosing among the following options:
a) Authorize use of the current set aside in TOT dollars totaling $450,000 as the match, resulting in a grant of up to $2,250,000 with a 20% County match.
b) Authorize use of more than set aside TOT funds (source to be determined) to come up with the 20% match, resulting in a higher grant amount.
c) Authorize use of the current set aside in TOT dollars as a match of less than 20%, based on submission of a letter outlining the financial situation of the County as a result of COVID-19. (As an example a 10% match would result in a $4,500,000 grant, a 15% match would result in a $3,000,000 grant).
d) Authorize use of more than set aside TOT funds (source to be determined) to come up with less than the 20% match, based on submission of a letter outlining the financial situation of the County as a result of COVID-19, resulting in a higher grant amount.
4) If above option c) or d) is chosen, approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to submit a match commitment letter as part of the grant application requesting a waiver of the 20% match and asking for a lower percentage match, based upon relative economic distress of the region, including loss of revenue and affirming that the County has exceeded its borrowing and taxing authority (sample draft letter attached);
5) Authorize the Purchasing Agent to execute an amendment to Agreement 4555 with NEO Fiber, Inc. dba NEO Connect, for $5...
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