By John Raffel
Correspondent
ALLEGAN – The county’s broadband action group is scheduling interviews this week with applicants for its project manager position. Seven individuals have responded to the advertisement announcing the job, county commission chairman Jim Storey announced.
“The group has identified retention of a project manager as a key component to organizing a prudent approach to tapping the American Recovery Plan funds the federal government has awarded to the county and local governmental units across the county,” Storey announced. “The so-called ARPA funds are designated for several spending categories with broadband expansion in rural areas especially, such as Allegan County, the major focus.
“Commissioner Tom Jessup of Casco Township, who serves on a Michigan Association of Counties committee, reports that under ARPA and other initiatives, rural areas will be able to tap multiple millions to expand access to the high speed cyber highway. The
Broadband Action Group is charged with designing an approach that secures broadband providers interest in Allegan County’s underserved and unserved areas.”