Following a comprehensive application process, a number of electric membership cooperatives (EMCs) in Georgia have been awarded millions in funding for broadband expansion through the America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), part of federal coronavirus relief funding allocated to Georgia.
The news came from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp who recently announced almost $408 million in preliminary awards to 49 recipients, including seven EMCs, to provide fast and reliable internet service to communities, households and businesses in 70 counties in rural parts of the state.
Collectively, seven EMCs will receive approximately $130 million to provide broadband service to approximately 65,000 customers across rural Georgia. Individual EMC awards, total investment and estimated number of customers impacted:
· Altamaha EMC—$5.9 million grant; $10 million total investment; 2,171 customers in portions of Toombs and Montgomery Counties
· Central Georgia EMC--$25 million grant; $150 million total investment; 19,996 unserved customers across CGEMC’s 14-county service territory; partnership with Conexon Connect; estimated project completion, summer 2024.
· Diverse Power--$25 million grant; $39 million total investment; 4,769 customers in portions of Harris, Troup, Meriwether, Quitman and Coweta Counties; subsidiary Kudzu Networks; estimated project completion, 36 to 48 months.
· Flint Energies--$25 million grant; 10,659 customers across portions of nine counties in Flint’s 17-county service area; estimated project completion, three to four years.
· Ocmulgee EMC--$19 million grant; 9,000 customers in portions of Bleckley, Dodge, Laurens, Pulaski and Telfair Counties; LLC; estimated project completion, two to four years.
· Southern Rivers Energy—$15.6 million grant; $56 million total investment; 10,674 customers in portions of Bibb, Crawford, Lamar, Monroe, Pike, Spalding and Upson counties; partnership with Conexon Connect; estimated project completion, first quarter 2023.
· Washington EMC--$13.2 million grant; $52 million total investment; 6,500 customers in portions of Glascock, Hancock, Warren and Washington counties; partnership with Conexon Connect; estimated project completion, mid-2024.
“This is a great day for these EMC members,” said Georgia EMC President/CEO Dennis Chastain. “Rural communities have long waited for broadband service which is essential to compete in today’s digital world. The pandemic brought the issue to the forefront and shined a light on the disparities between communities, businesses and people with and without broadband access.”
In addition to electric co-ops which were direct recipients, five EMCs supported 12 applications which lead to an additional $172 million in funding and 62,000 customers who will soon have access to high-speed internet in rural Georgia:
· Amicalola EMC, along with Ellijay Telephone Company, supported the Gilmer/Pickens Development Authority; $21.4 million grant; 4,259 customers in Gilmer and Pickens Counties;
· Colquitt EMC supported applications from Berrien, Brooks, Colquitt, Cook and Lowndes Counties (in partnership with Windstream)
o Berrien County; $15.2 million grant; $23.6 million total investment; 4,737 customers
o Brooks County: $13.8 million grant; $21.8 million total estimated investment; 3,749 customers
o Colquitt County: $22.5 million grant; $35.1 million total investment; 7,448 customers
o Cook County: $10.9 million grant; $17.2 million total investment; 3,723 customers
o Lowndes County: $22.5 million grant; $40.9 million total investment; 18,218 customers
· Grady EMC supported Thomas County’s application (in partnership with Windstream); $6.8 million grant; $13.2 million total investment; 2,098 customers in Thomas County
· Oconee EMC supported Twiggs County’s application (In partnership with Windstream); $4.6 million grant; $8.5 million total investment; 2,034 customers in Twiggs County
· Sumter EMC supported applications from Lee, Stewart and Terrell Counties (in partnership with Windstream);
o Lee County Board of Commissioners: $12.5 million grant; $21 million total investment; 4,234 customers
o Stewart County: $6.6 million grant; $13.7 million total investment; 2,729 unserved customers
o Terrell County: $9.6 million grant; $14.8 million total investment; 2,270 customers
· Sumter EMC also supported the application of the One Sumter Economic Development Foundation; $25.3 million grant; $33 million total investment; 5,726 customers; estimated project completion, one to three years.
Applications were reviewed by the Georgia Jobs and Infrastructure Committeecreated by Governor Kemp. Most recipients included local governments, non-profit organizations and service providers ranging from large companies, EMCs and local Georgia-based telecommunications companies.
In recent years, Georgia’s EMCs have been pursuing solutions to help expand broadband access. Since 2019, 19 EMCs have made broadband announcements with plans to provide approximately 250,000 EMC members with high-speed internet service in 86 Georgia counties through six affiliates and 14 partnership agreements. In just two years, EMCs combined have invested more than $680 million to expand broadband in their service areas.
Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to approximately 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.