(Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

POMEROY — A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will expand broadband service to more than 200 homes in Meigs County, according to the Buckeye Hills Regional Council.

The $352,000 grant was received by the Meigs County Community Improvement Corporation with the support of the Meigs County Commission. Administrator is the Buckeye Hills Regional Council.

“Meigs County has a well-documented need for broadband infrastructure investment,” said Chasity Schmelzenbach, Regional Council executive director. “We’ve collaborated alongside partners to lay the groundwork to demonstrate the true need for broadband infrastructure within Meigs County. I’m proud of the work our development team and the partners have done to continue to bridge the digital divide.”

The homes would otherwise not have access to high-speed internet service.

The successful bidder on the project is New Era Broadband. The project should be substantially operational later this year.

Service will have speeds of more than 100 mbps to homes in the Long Bottom area and off Ohio 681 between Reedsville and Tuppers Plains that do not have cable or fiber internet and are not targeted to receive fiber internet in any upcoming expansion projects.

“While this equipment is significantly more expensive than the equipment we have traditionally used, it will give subscribers a fiber-like experience at a fraction of the cost of running fiber optic cable in this region,” said Dave Hannum, founder and co-owner of New Era Broadband.

New Era Broadband is contributing $88,000 to the build-out of the project.