June 24, 2024 – Haywood County has secured another grant to extend high-speed internet service and reach more residents and businesses in rural areas. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff)
HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) —
Haywood County secured another grant to extend high-speed internet service, with a push to reach more residents and businesses.
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The purpose is to put broadband into rural places in Haywood County. Places such as Ferguson’s Supply just recently got an upgrade.
James Ferguson’s family has managed Ferguson’s Supply in Fines Creek for six generations. Ferguson says strong internet signals have fluctuated over the years, so getting something reliable is vital.
“We run the whole store on it right now.,” he said. “If it gets slow, we’re in trouble.”
Their service has recently improved from the internet provider, Skyrunner.
“We’ve put them on everything in here,” Ferguson said. “Phones, ATM, FAX, computers, cash register.”
State and federal grants are helping the county build high-speed internet access to rural areas with more than $11 million in the last three years.
The latest $700,000 one comes from the “Completing Access to Broadband” (CAB) program, awarded by the state’s Department of Information Technology’s Division of Broadband and Digital Equity.
More than 900 Haywood County businesses and homeowners who previously lacked high-speed connection will now receive it.
“Skyrunner’s been a great partner,” said Haywood County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kevin Ensley.
With grant assistance, they have already helped connect places in the Bethel and Lake Logan areas, Crabtree and Fines Creek, according to Ensley. The $700,000 will help even more.
Ensley says the build-out will take time, likening it to building roads.
“A lot of those grants come with what seem to be a long time period that they have to install this… usually sometimes up to 5 years,” said Ensley.
He says county-wide high-speed internet is necessary as people move here and work models change.
“They found that they can come here and live and actually get internet and work from home,” said Ensley. “It’s kind of helped our economy.”
A sizeable piece of the county remains without high-speed internet. But future funding is in the works from Rep. Chuck Edwards. Ensley says applying for these state grants will be an ongoing process.
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