Arizona Commerce Authority Announces $100 Million In Broadband Grants
PHOENIX, AZ (July 12, 2022) — The Arizona Commerce Authority today announced 20 awardees of the Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG). Governor Ducey launched the program in November 2021, investing $100 million to expand high-speed broadband to Arizona’s unserved or underserved areas.
The grant allocated a total of $75.7 million to 14 awardees in rural counties and $23.6 million to six awardees in urban counties, spurring $112.8 million in local matching funds. Grants were awarded through a competitive process based on criteria such as return on investment and local support.
When completed, the grant projects will increase connections for homes, businesses, public safety agencies, medical facilities, schools, libraries and more while catalyzing new economic development and enhancing opportunities for sectors such as tourism, trade, and agriculture.
Examples of projects include installing high-speed fiber-optic infrastructure, deploying Wi-Fi access points and networking equipment for broadband internet, and expanding existing and middle-mile fiber networks.
“This award represents a generational investment toward connecting rural and underserved parts of the state and demonstrates our commitment to ensure all Arizonans have access to high-speed internet,” said Governor Doug Ducey. “Whether it’s public safety, education, telemedicine or more, reliable internet access is more important than ever. We’re grateful to be partnering with communities across our state to ensure we connect all of Arizona.”
“We are proud to announce the Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program awardees,” said Sandra Watson, President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “These collaborative projects will enhance how Arizonans live, work and learn regardless of where they live. We are grateful to Governor Ducey and all our state and federal partners for their commitment to expand broadband statewide.”
Arizona Broadband Grant Program Awardees:
Rural Awardees
- Apache County: Southern Apache County Regional Broadband Project
- Cochise County: City of Douglas and Cochise Community College
- Cochise County: Fiber Investment for West Willcox Rural Community
- Coconino County: Coconino County Project 4
- Graham County: City of Safford improved access to broadband internet
- La Paz County: La Paz County – Altice
- Mohave County: Wecom AZ-EXTEND
- Mohave County: Mohave County Middle Mile Project
- Navajo County: Navajo County-WANRack
- Navajo County: Heber-Overgaard
- Pinal County: Kearny AZ FTTH/FTTB initial deployment
- Santa Cruz County: Patagonia Regional Broadband Project
- Yuma County: Yuma County Broadband Project
- Yuma County: City of San Luis Last Mile Project
Urban Awardees
- Maricopa County: Fiber-to-the-Premise in Gila Bend, AZ
- Maricopa County: Surprise City Center and Heritage District
- Maricopa County/Yavapai County: Wickenburg
- Pima County: Expanded Broadband Access in Ajo, Arizona
- Pima County: Public Private Partnership for Three Points and Sycamore Springs
- Pima County: TOUA Pima County Sites
The Broadband Grant adds to notable steps in recent years to increase broadband access including the announcement of the Arizona Statewide Middle-Mile Strategic Plan in February. The plan led to the creation of the Statewide Middle-Mile Network, which will add 200 miles of broadband conduit in designated corridors along I-17 and I-19 by 2023.
Significant investments have also furthered broadband expansion efforts. In February, Governor Ducey announced a $68.1 million investment to expand broadband connectivity along Interstate 40 West from Flagstaff to the California border.
In 2019, Arizona allocated $3 million for Rural Broadband Development Grants. The funding helped enhance broadband infrastructure and increased download speeds for communities of Bullhead City, Page and Payson, while funding planning grants in other parts of the state.
Media Contact
Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]
About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter @azcommerce.