What’s the big IDEA? A $25 million fund to connect Appalachia

Connect Humanity is excited to announce that Connect Humanity and Appalachian Community Capital are partnering to raise a $25 million fund Investing in Digital Equity in Appalachia (IDEA). The fund will make investments to help bridge the digital divide across the Appalachian region, one of the least connected parts of the US. Through this partnership, Appalachian Community Capital and Connect Humanity will also be focusing on developing opportunities and the capacity for local capital to invest in local infrastructure, including supporting a community of local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), banks, impact investors, and foundations investing to achieve digital equity across Appalachia. The first phase of the partnership will focus on raising and deploying the $25 million IDEA Fund to help finance new broadband networks in unconnected and underserved areas in Appalachia, primarily in communities participating in the Appalachia Digital Accelerator. CDFIs and other investors will have the opportunity to participate directly in IDEA Fund or as capital partners on individual projects.