The Summers County Commission has applied for grant funding for another broadband project. The goal of this broadband project is to achieve affordable, high-speed broadband coverage from the Jumping Branch-Nimitz area south including Leatherwood Road and down to the county line. Region 1 Planning and Development Council helped coordinate the county submission to the Appalachian Regional Commission. “This effort is part of our comprehensive plan to cover Summers County in affordable, high-speed Internet”, said Commissioner Ted Kula. He added, “This is one of three major projects that we are working on right now. We are also looking at wireless opportunities so we can get broadband to our residents more quickly while the fiber buildouts happen.” This application requires 25% matching funds, and Summers County has tentatively entered into an agreement with an Internet Service Provider who will provide the required $600K match.
Commissioner Kula heralded Region 1’s efforts to help the county with the submission. “This was a complicated application. It required coordinating many different organization inputs, detailed mapping, and lots of calculations. Summers County thanks Region 1 for their skilled efforts to help bring fiber broadband to our residents.”
