North Carolina Awards $30 Million in Grants to Expand Internet Access in 11 Counties

Gov Roy Cooper (D-NC) announced that more than 13,000 households and 582 businesses across North Carolina are set to receive access to high-speed internet thanks to more than $30.8 million in grants. The NC Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) awarded the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants to expand broadband infrastructure in the state. Using funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the GREAT program provides matching grants to internet service providers and electric membership cooperatives that may partner with individual North Carolina counties to compete for funding to expand high-speed internet service to unserved areas of the state. NCDIT awarded more than $23.4 million in GREAT grants to internet service providers in 12 counties on July 18 and will continue to make awards for the remainder of the $350 million total GREAT grant funding in August 2022.