By rdnewsNOW staff

County gets $200,000 for broadband internet project

Apr 2, 2018 | 6:21 AM

Clearwater County is getting $200,000 in grant funding to help improve internet service.

The money from Alberta Economic Development and Trade’s Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program is going towards the county’s “Broadband Strategic Action Plan” Project.

County officials say the development of a broadband feasibility study and action plan is intended to connect more businesses to a quality internet service, create jobs and benefit broader rural community development.

“This grant helps the County move another step further ahead with Council’s objectives to enhance broadband service availability, while fostering community and economic development,” said Clearwater County Reeve, John Vandermeer. “In order to meet broadband needs today, we need to be future-ready and support our existing industries of agriculture, oil and gas, forestry and tourism. This groundwork for future broadband projects will support business growth and tax revenue diversification – an important shift for the future sustainability of the County.”

Clearwater County applied for the CARES grant in November 2017, in order to: conduct studies and develop an action plan to support the advancement of broadband internet development; identify appropriate broadband network projects to foster business retention, expansion and growth across a variety of sectors; develop guidelines for the allocation of capital resources to encourage broadband in the region; and, define projected returns on investment.

project will take one year

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(Clearwater County)