More than $19 million designated to expand broadband, digital opportunities in Madison County
PRESS RELEASE FROM STATE REP. CHRIS TODD:
State Rep. Chris Todd announces $19.2 million to expand local broadband, digital opportunities in Madison County
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Chris Todd, R-Madison County, today announced $19.2 million in grant funding will be used to expand broadband availability and access to high-quality, digital jobs in Madison County.
The 11 grants are part of $162.7 million in overall funding administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). The investments will provide broadband access and digital opportunity programs to more than 236,000 Tennesseans across 92 counties.
“Access to reliable, high-speed internet service is essential for our communities and their success,” Todd said. “These investments will benefit local residents, businesses, and the overall economy. I look forward to the positive results they will have across Madison County.
Local grant recipients include:
- Aeneas Communications: $7.19 million to expand broadband access in parts of Madison and six other counties through the Middle Mile program
- Gibson Connect: $7 million to expand broadband access in parts of Madison and Gibson counties through the Middle Mile program
- City of Jackson: $405,433 to improve digital access by construction or renovation of facilities through the Connected Community Facilities (CCF) program
- Madison County: $100,000 to expand digital skills training and broadband infrastructure through the Broadband Ready Communities (BRC) program
- First Baptist Cares: $122,770 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison and Shelby counties through the Digital Skills, Education and Workforce (DSEW) program
- Helping Hands of Middle and West Tennessee: $808,539 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison and two other counties through the DSEW program
- Jackson State Community College: $890,894 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison and nine other counties through the DSEW program
- Lane College: $891,634 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison and three other counties through the DSEW program
- Memphis Urban League: $860,494 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison and three other counties through the DSEW program
- Southwest Human Resource Agency: $895,116 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison and seven other counties through the DSEW program
- United Way of West Tennessee: $58,613 to advance digital skills and workforce development by serving parts of Madison County through the DSEW program
The Last Mile and Middle Mile grant programs assist with capital expenses related to broadband deployment in unserved and underserved areas of Tennessee. They are part of a broader strategy to ensure every resident has access to high-speed internet by 2028.
Additionally, TNECD has launched four new programs to promote broadband opportunity and high-paying digital jobs statewide. DSEW grants support a variety of training and education programs to advance digital skills and workforce development, creating a pipeline for well-paying, digital jobs. CCF grants support construction and renovation of spaces that offer services for digital advancement in workforce, healthcare, and education. BRC grants support community-based digital skills training, public Wi-Fi projects, distribution of free or low-cost devices and marketing for low-cost internet plans. TCAT Broadband Workforce grants will help develop a well-trained and diverse telecommunications workforce capable of deploying and managing broadband infrastructure through a Telecommunications Electronics Technician diploma course.
TNECD’s most recent broadband infrastructure grants will provide access to more than 58,200 Tennesseans in 37 counties. In all, the department has invested more than $715 million to expand the state’s broadband infrastructure, connecting more than 689,000 Tennesseans across 275,000 residential and business locations.
All grant recipients must complete their projects by Dec. 31, 2026.
Additional information about Tennessee’s broadband initiatives can be found here.
State Rep. Chris Todd represents House District 73, which covers most of Madison County.
For more news in the Madison County area, click here.
