New Kent receives $75,000 grant for broadband planning

Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones (left) and Director of Housing and Community Development Bill Shelton (right) present a $75,000 check to New Kent Board of Supervisor chairman Tommy Tiller and county administrator Rodney Hathaway (center) as part of the VATPI initiative to expand broadband throughout the county.

Andre' Jones photo

As the ninth fastest growing community in Virginia, New Kent continues to face challenges of addressing infrastructure to provide faster Internet services to local residents and businesses. Thanks to a grant through the Virginia Telecommunication Planning Initiative (VATPI), the county is now taking first steps to provide adequate services to improve the quality of life for local citizens and businesses.

New Kent received a $75,000 grant as part of a Friday morning announcement held at New Kent’s Visitor and Commerce Center. The county is one of 14 communities awarded funding in the total amount of $500,000 to help plan for broadband Internet communication services.

“Times are changing in the definition of development to address technology-based needs,” said Director of Virginia’s Department of Housing and Community Development Bill Shelton.

On hand was Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, who spoke about the need of faster Internet services as more of a requirement for homes and businesses in today’s times.

“We have discovered that economic development is a multi-growing area,” Jones said. “It’s more than just infrastructure on roads or waterways. Today, it’s providing adequate Internet and broadband services to homes and local businesses.

“You have to have a first class infrastructure to invest in and that’s why we are here today,” he continued. “New Kent has 400 home-based businesses and they cannot grow without broadband access. You also have local schools that began a one-to-one Chromebook initiative this year and those students will need access to high-speed Internet.

“This grant is to have folks do solid planning to provide Internet access to all citizens in New Kent,” Jones said as he began to wrap up the announcement. “Access to broadband will be a requisite to future success. It’s like oxygen to breathe; you are going to need it.”

County Administrator Rodney Hathaway commented on the main goals to use the grant to provide residents services they have been looking for.

“This grant will be used to make a plan to establish a firm foundation to provide broadband Internet services to residents of New Kent,” Hathaway said. “By using this grant, it will create the opportunity to allow expansion for businesses and residents to use.

“It will also allow our students to utilize Chromebooks for education that was led by [New Kent Superintendent of Schools] Dr. David Myers and the school board,” Hathaway continued. “Economic development is about more than attracting new businesses to the county; it’s about investing in those local businesses who are here now and chose New Kent as their home.

“This will not be just a broadband plan; it’s a community broadband plan,” Hathaway concluded.

In a press release, Governor Terry McAuliffe spoke about the importance of the growth of Virginia to provide services to residents in smaller localities.

“Access to high-quality Internet connectivity is one of the most critical tools for communities to grow, diversify, and build a new Virginia economy,” McAuliffe said. “Providing adequate telecommunications in a community is essential for preparing our students and workforce, attracting businesses, improving medical services, and providing a better quality of life for all Virginians.”

New Kent is part of the Tier I localities to receive the $75,000 grant. They join Albermarle County, Augusta County, and Culpeper County on the tier. Other localities receiving grants are Bland County, the regional areas of Alleghany, Botetourt County, Craig County, city of Covington, and town of Clifton Forge; Pulaski County, the regional area of Bath County and Highland County; and the Town of Altavista.