Raleigh, NC – Governor Roy Cooper announced today that FOCUS Broadband will receive two additional Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grants totaling $7.2 million dollars to serve rural homes and businesses in Chowan and Perquimans counties. The funding was part of the Completing Access to Broadband (CAB) program that supplemented last year’s GREAT grant program. Of the total grant funding, $3.2 million dollars will be used to expand high-speed internet service to 780 homes in the Chowan communities of Cannon Ferry, Welch and Snow Hill, and $4 million dollars will be used to expand high-speed service to approximately 1,000 homes in rural areas outside of Hertford and Belvidere in Perquimans County.

FOCUS Broadband partnered with both Chowan County and Perquimans County to apply for the grant, and as part of that partnership, FOCUS Broadband will contribute $820,000 in matching funds between the two projects. For their part, Chowan and Perquimans counties are providing a combined $450,000 of additional funding.

“FOCUS Broadband is excited to receive these grants that will allow us to serve more areas in rural Chowan and Perquimans counties,” said Keith Holden, FOCUS Broadband CEO. “We are thankful for the investment from NCDIT, the North Carolina General Assembly and Governor Cooper for investing in rural broadband. We’re also grateful for our partnerships with the county managers and county commissioners in both Chowan and Perquimans counties. They have been instrumental in helping us secure four grants through the NC GREAT Grant program that will expand our fiber network in these communities and bring critical connectivity to the families and businesses that live and work there.”

In the announcement, Governor Cooper stated that this round of GREAT grants will bring high-speed internet to more than 25,800 homes across 33 counties. “We want all North Carolinians connected to high-speed internet so they can take full advantage of digital opportunities for work, learning, health and more,” Governor Cooper said. “These grants will fund projects in communities from all corners of our state so more families and businesses will have access to affordable, reliable broadband.”

Last year, FOCUS Broadband received $8 million dollars in GREAT grants to serve rural homes and businesses near Rockyhock, Mavaton, Center Hill, Cisco and Valhalla in Chowan County and Chapanoke, New Hope, Winfall and Woodville in Perquimans County. Grant recipients were given the go-ahead to begin work on these projects in April, and high-level design work is underway with a targeted start date for construction in early fall. All four projects should be completed by the end of 2025.

FOCUS Broadband is awaiting details from the NCDIT as to when the 2023 grant funds will be made available to begin work on expanding high-speed internet in these counties. To stay up to date on the progress of the grant projects, please visit www.fasterchowan.com or www.fasterperquimans.com, or call 888-367-2862.