Colorado announces $113M in federal funds to address broadband needs, homelessness
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis announced Wednesday the state’s receiving $113 million from the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund to connect homes and businesses to high-speed internet.
Through the CPF funds and a $826 million federal investment through the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, Polis’ office claimed Colorado’s on track to connect 99% of households to reliable broadband connectivity by 2027.
“In a world that turned to virtual connections during the pandemic, it’s critical to ensure Coloradans have internet access,” Brandy Reitter, executive director of the Colorado Broadband Office, said in a press release. “These awarded broadband projects will provide Coloradans in unserved and underserved communities with more opportunity and resources.”
The investment from the U.S. Treasury will help connect an estimated 19,000 homes and businesses in the state, with expansion efforts targeting the south and southwest parts of Colorado. These regions of the state have the largest numbers of unserved and underserved locations when it comes to internet connectivity.
Other funds from the CPF investment are planned to help develop a residential community where Coloradoans can recover from homelessness, find housing stability and reintegrate into communities.
The CPF from the U.S. Treasury has provided $10 billion to states, territories and tribal governments to fund projects that support work, education and health monitoring in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since last spring, states overwhelmingly have allocated their CPF funds to expanding and improving their broadband infrastructure. According to an analysis from the Pew Charitable Trusts, New York state planned to allocate nearly 30% of its CPF funds to improve broadband infrastructure in low-income housing.
