Memorandum
Date: May 25, 2021
To: The Honorable Bruno Sabatier, Chair, Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Carol J. Huchingson, County Administrative Officer
Subject: Approve Letter of Support to Opt-in and Support Golden State Financing Authority to Submit an Application on Behalf of Rural County Representatives of California and Authorize Chair to sign.
Executive Summary: (include fiscal and staffing impact narrative):
A time sensitive opportunity has presented itself as a result of additional funding allocated to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) via the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to create or update existing Broadband Strategic Plans.
EDA has received an additional $3B ARPA allocation, most of which will be distributed via competitive grant awards under their Economic Adjustment Program. This program is among the most inclusive in funding for projects ranging from planning grants to dollars for project implementation.
Golden State Financing Authority plans to submit a single grant application on behalf of Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) member counties for the purpose of developing and updating their broadband strategic plans for each county (and cities/towns therein). EDA would provide funding for 80% of the cost of each countywide broadband plan, with member counties committing the remaining 20%. For budget purposes, it is estimated that each county plan would cost approximately $120,000. Therefore, each county that participates in the grant would be required to commit approximately $25,000.
RCRC's goal would be to have every one of our 37 member counties equipped with a complete plan at the end of the project period. Having an updated and comprehensive countywide broadband strategic plan would enable Lake County to apply for broadband project implementation funds from various federal agencies - USDA Reconnect and EDA among them.
Opting-in would require the following in the n...
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