ATLANTA – State Representative Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville), chair of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, commends Governor Brian Kemp’s decision to award $6.8 million in federal funding for broadband access throughout in Thomas County. This federal funding is awarded to the Thomas County Board of Commissioners and could potentially increase broadband access for 2,098 locations in the county.
“I want to thank Governor Kemp for putting these crucial recovery funds in the hands of real Georgians and their businesses,” said Rep. Taylor. “Georgia has led the nation in broadband development initiatives, and once again, our state leaders are putting real Georgians first. I know the Thomas County Board of Commissioners will be excellent shepherds of this funding, and I look forward to seeing the incredible impact that this $6.8 million will have on Thomas County families and businesses.”
Today, the governor announced that the state has dedicated approximately $408 million in preliminary awards to support broadband infrastructure projects across the state. These awards will support 49 American Rescue Plan Act grant projects, including Thomas County, in an effort to provide Georgia communities, households and businesses access to faster and more reliable broadband. These grant projects will impact 70 Georgia counties and represent an investment of more than $738 million in Georgia when matching funds are contributed.
Today’s announcement represents the initial phase of the governor’s rollout. The state has entered a due-diligence period and will now collect further information and work with the Thomas County Board of Commissioners to maximize the state’s ability to serve Georgians in the highest-need areas.
In June 2020, Kemp created the Georgia Jobs and Infrastructure Committees to advise on spending the federal coronavirus relief funds that were allocated to Georgia through the American Rescue Plan. The Broadband Infrastructure Committee was responsible for making investment recommendations to provide unserved or underserved locations with faster, more reliable broadband access. The state utilized the Georgia Broadband Availability Map as a resource to identify the necessity of these projects.
For more information about the governor’s announcement, please click here.
Representative Darlene Taylor represents the citizens of District 173, which includes Grady County and portions of Thomas and Decatur counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as Chairman of the Governmental Affairs Committee, Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Vice Chairman of the Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee. She also serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Insurance, Public Safety & Homeland Security, Rules and Transportation committees.
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