Charles City awarded $4 million grant for broadband initiative

With the ongoing struggle of Internet services in Charles City County, the Commonwealth of Virginia is stepping in to assist the locality.

Governor Ralph Northam presented a check in the amount of $3,966,012 to county leaders as part of the Virginia Telecommunications Initiative.

The Wednesday morning presentation at Charles City’s Library was another step in the right direction for the county. The funds are a part of a broadband initiative to rural localities, and are expected to provide access to 2,000 citizens within the county.

The award is the most given to a locality out of $18.3 million in grants and is based off applications of need that were submitted. Including matching funds from private investors, more than $35 million will be donated to projects that will connect approximately 36,000 households, local learning institutions, and businesses according to a press release.

In December 2014, a $600,000 initiative was presented to the county to bring high-speed Internet to businesses in the Roxbury Industrial Park. From there, efforts to connect homes have been slow, as delays have lasted for approximately five years. County leaders are hopeful that the grant will fill a void that is much needed in Charles City and attract future residents and businesses.