Fentress Applies For Over $2M In Broadband Grants To Expand Access

Fentress County has applied for two new grants offered by the Tennessee Department of Economic And Community Department to expand broadband access.

Fentress County Executive Jimmy Johnson said the first grant would be used for schools, health clinics, and hospitals. Johnson said the Broadband Ready Communication grant is for connectivity in community work spaces.

“We’re hoping we could get some new computers, laptops,” Johnson said. “Possibly put into our library where the public comes in and has access to using computers for different things.

Johnson said the application for the Broadband Ready Communication grant is for $100,000 with no-match. Johnson said the application for the Connected Community Facilities grant is $2 million with an 80/20 match required by the county.

“We’re very proud and lucky that we get to do something like this and hopefully we can put in the application and get accepted for it,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that the Broadband Ready Communication grant could also improve the lives of senior citizens by giving them computers.

“Our Senior Center, hopefully, get some in there, because we have seniors that like to get on the computer with help to look up things that they need,” Johnson said. “As far as doctors’ appointments and just different things they want to look up.”

Johnson said that Fentress has been 100 percent covered for several years now and that the current coverage is already good. Johnson said that the good coverage has been great for citizens who work from home as well as county tourism.