Berrien County’s broadband committee could use more guidance from the Berrien County Board of Commissioners regarding how much in federal ARPA funds the county will spend on broadband expansion projects. That’s the message from Commissioner Ezra Scott, who spoke to the county commission Thursday. Scott said Berrien Bit should be told exactly how much ARPA support the county will give local broadband projects so townships applying for support can know.
“We’re going to have to know and have to figure that out,” Scott said. “Otherwise, that’s going to put us behind, and we’ve got to get going on some of these things. We’ve got a few shovel ready projects, but we’ve got to know what the funding is first.”
County Administrator Brian Dissette has some suggestions.
“I think we’re at a point where having some type of formalized resolution committing what you all are ready to spend on broadband would make sense,” Dissette said. “At a minimum, a six million dollar number has been discussed, I believe up to eight million.”
Chair Mac Elliott noted there are other sources of broadband funds in addition to ARPA. He suggested the number put out by the county could change. Dissette also noted his office has so far received two shovel ready proposals, both with a match. He said the townships should be encouraged to put up a match just to increase their chances of getting ARPA support via the county.
