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Macon County Commissioners vote 4-1 to commit $1.067 million in matching funds for state CAB broadband grant
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Summary
After an update on several broadband grant streams, the Macon County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to send a letter committing a roughly $1,067,000 local match (10%) and to use $396,425 in ARPA funds toward the match to compete for an $8 million CAB grant covering about 2,600 eligible locations.
The Macon County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on March 12 to pursue the state Continuing Access to Broadband (CAB) grant and provide a county match estimated at $1,067,000, with $396,425 of that coming from available ARPA funds and the remaining $670,575 to be appropriated from the general fund balance.
Broadband consultant Jeff Lee briefed the board on progress with BalsamWest, which he said is about 50% complete, and described several funding streams, including Frontier GREAT, BalsamWest GREAT and the Charter RDOF subsidy. Lee explained that the CAB program requires counties to identify priority project areas and provide a local match of roughly 10% to secure larger state funds; he said the county’s preliminary target list includes about 2,600 eligible locations and that the requested letter of commitment would enable the county to be considered for an estimated $8 million in project funding.
County Manager Derek Roland told commissioners the agenda packet contained a proposed ARPA grant project ordinance amendment for $396,425 that could be applied to the match and that the board would need to appropriate the remaining $670,575 from fund balance if it approved pursuing the grant.
Commissioner Higdon moved and Commissioner Shearl seconded the motion to pursue the CAB grant, authorize the letter of commitment, adopt the ARPA ordinance amendment and appropriate $670,575 from the general fund balance. The motion passed 4-1; Commissioner Young cast the lone opposing vote.
Supporters on the board and in the meeting framed the decision as a way to accelerate broadband access to underserved areas. Opponents focused on the size of the local match and competing uses for fund balance. The board did not set specific priority polygons or locations at the March 12 meeting; staff will coordinate with NCDIT on project area identification and present further details for appropriation and project scope as required.
Next steps: staff will submit the county’s letter of commitment and formal project request to NCDIT under the CAB timetable, return with a finalized grant ordinance and appropriation plan for the remaining match funds if the grant award proceeds.