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While the majority of residents across our region take having access to reliable broadband service for granted, there are a significant number of people who do not.
That's why it was exciting to learn Wednesday that Jefferson County had received $2.5 million in grant funding that will be used to help improve connectivity for 769 households and 34 businesses in Springfield, Ross, Knox, Island Creek, Salem and Wayne townships.
The money, which comes from the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization initiative of the Appalachian Regional Commission, will be combined with a $250,000 investment from the Jefferson County commissioners and $825,000 from internet service providers, raising the commitment to $3,575,000.
It's the kind of investment that will make a big difference in the lives of the people who live in those areas.
Access to broadband service that meets Federal Communications Commission benchmarks for download and upload speeds is spotty at best in some rural areas. That can make it difficult for residents and businesses in those areas to access information and educational services, conduct banking and other financial transactions, work from home, do their shopping, contact health care providers and watch streaming services. It also can make it tough to reach emergency services or simply stay in touch with friends and family members.
Wednesday's announcement will help change that situation for a significant number of area residents, as will an expected announcement from Xfinity that an additional 36 households in the Brilliant area soon will have service opportunities.
Money for Jefferson County was included in $68.2 million in POWER grant funding that went to 65 projects across the Appalachian region. It was acquired thanks to the efforts of the Jefferson County Broadband Task Force, which is chaired by Mike Paprocki, executive director of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Regional Planning Commission, and the support of the county commissioners.
Those aren't the only dollars that will help residents of our area -- Wheeling-based Ironworkers Local 549 learned Wednesday it had received a POWER grant of $1.75 million that will go toward a $3.5 million expansion of its training facility that will provide opportunities for members and retirees across the 12 counties in West Virginia, six counties in Ohio and two counties in Pennsylvania in its jurisdiction.
POWER grants look to direct federal resources to economic diversification projects in Appalachian communities that have been affected by coal-related job losses. Those dollars certainly help to fill big needs in our region. They have the potential to make lives better and open new opportunities for those who live in areas that often have been left out as technology has advanced.
It's good to know that local officials are working diligently to find and apply for grants and, most important, implement projects that will have a long-term benefit for the area.