AGENDA DATE: 12/12/2018
TITLE:
Title
Central Virginia Electric Cooperative Broadband Grant Support Agreement
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approval of a Broadband Grant Support Agreement between the County of Albemarle, the Economic Development Authority of Albemarle County, Central Virginia Electric Cooperative, and Central Virginia Services, Inc.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Kamptner, Henry, Walker, DeLoria, Culp, Graham, Fritz
PRESENTER (S): Mike Culp
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle Broadband Authority (ABBA) was incorporated on August 21, 2017. ABBA continues to investigate and work on projects to expand access to broadband for County residents in the unserved and underserved rural areas. Central Virginia Electric Cooperative (CVEC) and Central Virginia Services, Inc. (CVSI, which is CVEC's wholly-owned subsidiary), is working to provide broadband access to its entire membership, including approximately 3,600 sites in Albemarle County (the Project). Areas to be served include Schuyler, Afton, Greenwood, White Hall, Boonesville, Cash's Corner, Keswick, Red Hill, and Covesville.
CVEC estimated the Project would take five years to complete and requested grants equal to five years of the County's public service taxes for improvements related to this Project. Following direction from the Board of Supervisors and the Economic Development Authority, ABBA negotiated an accelerated Project timeline which incentivizes completion of the Albemarle County portion in 2022. CVEC also agreed to a total grant cap of $550,000, with an annual cap of $105,000. Also following Board of Supervisors and Economic Development Authority direction, ABBA negotiated a Broadband Grant Support Agreement with CVEC. This negotiation was completed on November 30, 2018.
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