Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced on Tuesday that many rural areas of Georgia will be seeing funds that will help make the internet more accessible for people who struggle to get broadband service.  Chattooga County was one of the areas that will benefit from the more than $400 million that will be spent upgrading internet access in the Peach State.

Chattooga County will receive over $3 million and Commissioner Blake Elsberry says that the county will be working with Windstream to make improvements and accessibility to residents in the county.

Elsberry said, “The county was awarded the broadband grant from the state we’ve been working so hard to attain. This is a big step towards expanding internet access in Chattooga County. Because so many resources exist via the web only, internet access is crucial for vulnerable populations and rural citizens.”

Governor Brian P. Kemp was joined by members of the Broadband Infrastructure Committee and state leaders when he announced almost $408 million in preliminary awards which will provide communities, households, and businesses in 70 Georgia counties access to faster and more reliable broadband. These 49 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant projects represent an investment of more than $738 million in Georgia when matching funds are contributed.