The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded the City of Martinsville a $700,000 grant for the MiNet Expansion project. The funding will support MiNet, or the Telecommunications Department of Martinsville, in its pursuit of establishing a high-quality Fiber-to-the-Business network for local businesses, according to a release from 9th District U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith.
“Investments in broadband access and service are key steps in supporting local businesses and serving those in rural and underserved areas,” said Griffith, R-Salem. “This ARC grant for $700,000 helps Martinsville build fiber infrastructure to deliver reliable, quality internet service to businesses.”
The project includes the installation of 16 miles of Fiber-to-the-Business infrastructure to ensure access to reliable service for 150 small business establishments.
Griffith noted that he has advocated for greater access to broadband in the Ninth District, recently speaking in a Communications & Technology Subcommittee hearing with an official from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) as well as monitoring and encouraging approval of Virginia’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program submitted by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
