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Commission approves $100,000 broadband planning grant, adds priority districts
Summary
Shelby County accepted a $100,000 state broadband-ready communities grant and approved a contract with Innovate Memphis; commissioners amended the item to prioritize outreach to districts 7, 8, 9 and 10 before voting to accept the grant.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to accept a $100,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to support broadband-ready communities planning and approved a contract with Innovate Memphis not to exceed $94,000.
Hannah McCarthy of the Mayor's Office of Innovation explained the vetting process for nonprofit partners and warned that additional delays could risk the funds. Commissioner Brittney Thornton successfully moved to amend the item to designate Districts 7, 8, 9 and 10 as priority areas for outreach and service. The amendment was accepted without objection and the commission recorded 11 aye votes to pass Item 27.
McCarthy said Innovate Memphis' eligibility criteria and grading rubric will emphasize the areas with the highest need, and staff presented a timeline for outreach and partner vetting. Commissioners noted that the $100,000 is a planning and pilot amount and that broader deployment would require additional funding and partnerships. Commissioner Amber Mills and others called for urgency to avoid losing state-passed federal funds.
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