12/12/24
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill, announced $11,545,225 in grant funding has been awarded to expand broadband and digital opportunities in Marshall and Williamson Counties.
The counties will receive six separate grants as part of $101.6 million in overall funding administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). This investment will provide broadband access and digital opportunity programs to more than 97,000 Tennesseans across 75 counties.
“I’m excited to see high-speed internet reaching our rural communities, providing residents greater access to education, healthcare and job opportunities,” Warner said. “This grant funding will also help citizens strengthen their digital skills, opening doors to higher-paying job opportunities. Thank you to the leadership at TNECD for their support of our community.”
Local grant recipients include:
• United Communications: $8,137,109 to facilitate high-speed broadband access and increase deployment of broadband in parts of Marshall County through the Last Mile program.
• Giles County of Tennessee: $2,000,000 to construct and improve digital access in parts of Marshall and three other counties through the Connected Community Facilities (CCF) program.
• LocalTek Foundation: $751,392 to advance digital skills and workforce development in parts of Williamson and 12 other counties through the Digital Skills, Education and Workforce (DSEW) program
• Autism Possible: $293,724 to advance digital skills and workforce development in parts of Williamson and 13 other counties through the DSEW program
• Adroit: $195,000 to advance digital skills and workforce development in parts of Williamson and one other county through the DSEW program
• American Muslim Advisory Council: $168,000 to advance digital skills and workforce development in parts of Williamson and three other counties through the DSEW program
Grantees across all programs are investing approximately $25.1 million in matching funds and will complete their projects by Dec. 31, 2026, according to TNECD.
The TNECD created four grant programs to promote broadband opportunity and high-paying digital jobs. District 92 will receive grants from three of them: Last Mile, Connected Community Facilities (CCF) and Digital Skills, Employment and Workforce Development (DSEW).
The Last Mile grant program assists internet service providers with facilitating high-speed broadband access and increasing deployment and adoption of broadband in underserved areas of the Volunteer State.
CCF grant funds will be used to facilitate digital opportunity by construction or renovation of spaces that offer services for digital advancement in workforce, healthcare and education.
The DSEW program will help organizations offer a variety of training and education programs to advance digital skills and workforce development, creating a pipeline for well-paying jobs.
In total, TNECD has invested $815.6 million to expand the state’s broadband infrastructure and digital opportunity initiatives, connecting more than 700,000 Tennesseans across 280,000 residential and business locations.
Additional information on TNECD’s broadband initiatives can be found here.
Todd Warner represents District 92 which includes Marshall and part of Williamson Counties.
