Yesterday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that the Frankfort Plant Board has been awarded $8,045,741 in Better Kentucky funds to expand access to high-speed, fiber internet to 1,918 currently unserved households and businesses located in Franklin County.

Last fall the Fiscal Court and the Plant Board entered into a partnership to help bring broadband to the unserved and underserved areas of Franklin County. The county will contribute 3 million American Rescue Plan Act dollars to the project. FPB has agreed to back the project using 5 million dollars from their budget. Altogether, the project will cost $16,091,483 in total when completed.

“This is an exciting project that will bring much needed internet access to the citizens of Franklin County,” Judge/Executive Huston Wells said. “I have heard about the need for expanded access in the rural areas of our county for many years. Recently, the COVID pandemic even further highlighted how crucial it is for all of our students and businesses to have reliable high-speed internet. I am extremely proud of the partnership between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Plant Board and the County to make this dream a reality.”