5140MM320

Purpose: The proposed 130 miles of new fiber will enable open-access middle mile connectivity and enhance grant funds for local ISPs and existing carriers to increase their speed to market and provide route diversity for their last-mile broadband service to residential and business customers. It will enable technology-driven businesses to provide high-paying jobs in the existing industrial and business parks in the region.

Activities to be performed: The applicant plans to construct approximately 130 miles of new fiber will enable open-access middle mile connectivity and enhance grant funds for local ISPs and existing carriers to increase their speed to market and provide route diversity for their last-mile broadband service to residential and business customers. It will enable technology-driven businesses to provide high-paying jobs in the existing industrial and business parks in the region. The applicant expects to build eight (8) open-access middle mile fiber segments to provide critical broadband connectivity and diversity for economic development purposes to thirteen (13) localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Expected outcomes: The goals and deliverables of the proposed project are as follows:
1. Build eight (8) open-access middle mile fiber segments to provide critical broadband connectivity and diversity for economic development purposes to thirteen (13) localities in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
2. Provide open access middle mile diverse fiber infrastructure to a total of 32 industrial and business park sites in eleven localities.
3. Ensure redundancy in telecommunications and broadband networks to protect commerce and public safety in all eight localities.
4. Build telecommunications infrastructure that will support technology-driven businesses that provide high-paying jobs in the existing industrial and business parks in the region.

Intended beneficiaries: The proposed network will serve thirteen localities in Southside and Central Virginia through eight segment routes. In rural Southern Virginia, grant funding to develop infrastructure is essential for connectivity. There are fifty-three community anchor institutions in the project area that are essential for economic growth and development in high-poverty areas. Following are descriptions of the eight segments:
- In the South Hill to Kenbridge segment, the route will improve the fiber route diversity and capacity that supports the marketability and feasibility of the Kenbridge Commerce Center site in Lunenburg County and the critical growth of a high-tech data center operation in Mecklenburg County.
- In the Blackstone to 1-85 McKenney segment, the route will support additional broadband capabilities at Fort Pickett for rapidly mobilized national security operations in the future and the current and expanding federal and private contractor workforce personnel.
- In the Dinwiddie to Prince George segment, the route directly supports economic development, workforce development, and quality of life of the residents of Dinwiddie County, Prince George County, and the City of Petersburg. This critical route enables industrial, business, education, and biotech/pharmaceutical clusters robust diverse fiber connectivity and will take on the challenge of constructing this fiber segment with over six (6) railroad crossings.
- The Mamac to Greensville County segment directly supports economic development in Greensville County by providing diverse fiber to enhance the marketability of the 1,600 acres, CSX certified, Mamac Megasite in Greensville County.
- The Farmville to Heartland Innovation Technology Park segment will directly support economic development by building new diverse fiber to the recently established Heartland Innovative Technology Park.
- The Sussex Mega Site segment will create middle mile fiber diversity and enhance the 595-acre Sussex Mega Site.

Subrecipient activities: The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.

Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities

11.033 - Middle Mile (Broadband) Grant Program

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

South Boston, Virginia 24592-3123 United States

Single Zip Code

None

Infrastructure $16,395,565 (100%) percent this Project Grant was funded by the 2021 Infrastructure Act.