ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Tuesday awarded $408 million from federal coronavirus relief funds to 49 entities to expand high-speed internet access in rural parts of the state.
The Republican governor said the electric cooperatives, local governments, cable companies and others who receive the funds will match the spending with $330 million of their own money.
Kemp decided to spend much of Georgia’s $4.8 billion in federal relief on broadband expansion, water and sewer improvements and offsetting the negative economic impact of the pandemic. Kemp appointed committees of lawmakers and others to recommend how he should spend the money. The broadband announcement is the first of that money to be spent.
“The projects chosen reflect the greatest needs and interests of hardworking Georgians,” Kemp said Tuesday.
Northwest Georgia grants
* Walker County: $6,253,152.00 to serve 3,339 households* Chattooga County: $3.04 million to serve 3,392 households* Chickamauga Telephone Company: $489,756 to serve 123 households* Trenton Telephone Company in Dade County: $6.5 million to serve 943householdsSource: Georgia Office of the Governor.