The Marshall County Commissioners opened a public hearing on Monday morning in order to take comments on the county’s intention to apply for a Broadband Readiness Grant.
Grant Administrator Shannon McLeod from Priority Project Resources said the county is one of the recipients approved for the Broadband Readiness Pilot Program rolled out by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.
She said the grant is for $50,000 and the county’s grant match is $5,500.
“What it would allow us to do would be to hire a consultant whom would come in and work with the county and all of the incorporated communities within the county to, first of all, define what broadband infrastructure really is, where there are lacks of that infrastructure within the communities, and how we could feasibly get everything up to date so that it not only makes you stronger from the infrastructure standpoint, but economically, regionally and within the world,” explained McLeod.
Once the grant is approved, county officials will watch a series of webinars in order deliver information on what the pilot program will entail.
“They do have some people at Purdue University that are well versed in this and they’re kind of going to be the ones that are going to lead the charge. We may then in turn utilize them to do the study, or they may recommend other consultants and firms out there.”
There was no public comment offered.
The commissioners unanimously approved a motion for Shannon McLeod to move forward with the grant. The funding request for the match will go before the county council for approval on Monday, Jan. 14.
