$13M grant to improve internet access across Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito introduced Thursday $13 million in grants that will probably be awarded to 86 communities throughout the Commonwealth to enhance or construct municipal fiber infrastructure.

The cash will profit greater than a dozen municipalities and college districts in western Massachusetts for enhancing present or creating new municipal fiber networks. The next cities and cities in western Massachusetts will obtain grants:

• Amherst – $295,925 – Extension of the prevailing municipal fiber community
• Colrain – $400,000 – Creation of a redundant municipal fiber community for the cities of Colrain, Charlemont, Heath, Leyden and Rowe
• Dalton – $60,844 – Creation of a brand new municipal fiber community
• East Longmeadow – $159,000 – Growth of the city’s present fiber optic infrastructure
• Easthampton – $250,000 – Creation of a brand new municipal fiber community
• Egremont – $12,493 – Extension of its present municipal fiber community
• Hampden – $250,000 – Growth of the city’s fiber infrastructure
• New Salem – $12,730 – Set up of environmental and safety monitoring tools for the New Salem Municipal Gentle Plant’s fiber community
• Northampton – $250,000 – Growth of the town’s present fiber infrastructure
• Pittsfield – $205,089 – Growth of the town’s present fiber infrastructure
• Washington – $244,000 – Creation of a redundant fiber community for the cities of Becket, Blandford, Otis, and Washington

“The supply of presidency companies, from public security response to information safety, is more and more reliant upon sturdy and cohesive web infrastructure,” stated Governor Charlie Baker. “This new Neighborhood Compact Cupboard program is the newest instance of our Administration’s dedication to partnering with cities and cities to higher serve residents, and we’re proud to help their efforts to strengthen their municipal networks.”

“Given the quickly altering panorama of knowledge expertise and the infrastructure required to help it, these inaugural municipal fiber grants will make a big affect on native communities and governments in higher serving their residents,” stated Lt. Governor Polito, Chair of the Neighborhood Compact Cupboard. “Because the Neighborhood Compact Cupboard Chair, I sit up for our continued partnership with all 351 of the Commonwealth’s cities and cities, and I need to congratulate the award winners and thank all these concerned for his or her continued dedication to their communities.”

The grant comes from the Neighborhood Compact Cupboard Municipal Fiber grant program established by the Baker-Polito Administration within the Fiscal 12 months 2022 Capital Funding Plan. Grant recipients are required to contribute a 5 % native match.