BrightRidge Scores $6.68M State Grant to Expand Rural Broadband in Appalachian Highlands
In a significant move towards bridging the digital divide within the Appalachian Highlands, BrightRidge Broadband is set to receive a $6.68 million grant. This state funding is part of the $162.7 million in state digital grants announced by Governor Bill Lee. The utility company is expected to provide a local match of $2.86 million to deliver fiber optic broadband services to 2,067 unserved homes in Washington and Greene counties.
An Exciting Step Forward for BrightRidge
“This is one of the most exciting things that has happened for BrightRidge in recent years,” commented BrightRidge’s CEO, Jeff Dykes. He noted that the grant would initially cover 1,868 homes in Washington County and 199 homes in Greene County. Securing the broadband grant was a team effort involving the company’s staff, state lawmakers, and local community members.
The Middle Mile Project
The generous funding received by BrightRidge forms part of the state’s Middle Mile grant and is expected to bring broadband to an additional 3,261 homes along the program’s route during the next 30 months. Notwithstanding, this is not their first attempt at securing funds for the expansion. A similar application in 2022 met with rejection as the state found insufficient unserved communities in Washington County. However, updated service area maps submitted on subsequent attempts have since proven otherwise.
The Impact on Local Communities
The grant scheme requires work to be completed by December 31, 2026. Once completed, it will address the needs of communities near Gray, South Central, Bowmantown, Lamar, and south of Jonesborough. State representatives and local officials are expressing their support and excitement at the development. “We know where this money will be going to,” says State Representative, Tim Hicks. Washington County Mayor, Joe Grandy, also lauds BrightRidge’s “business model” for expanding its broadband services to underserved communities in sparsely populated areas.
Beyond BrightRidge: How the State is Boosting Broadband
The grant received by BrightRidge forms part of a broader move by the state to boost broadband access. According to news announced by Governor Lee and state Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, the state digital grants aim to give over 236,000 residents in 92 of Tennessee’s 95 counties access to broadband. “Broadband is essential to all Tennesseans, and that’s why we are making strategic investments in our state’s broadband infrastructure,” Governor Lee asserts.
These critical investments have enabled more than 689,000 Tennesseans across 275,000 residential and business locations access. In total, the state has invested over $715 million in the realm.
As these developments unfold, it is clear that the pathway to education, job training, and greater opportunity is much easier traveled with reliable, high-speed internet connectivity. This grant serves as a solid step toward making these opportunities available to all residents in the Appalachian Highlands.
