The Madison County Commission has appropriated half of the $72 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding it has received from the federal government.

Who Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey appoints to replace Dale Strong as Commission chair may play a key role in how the other half of the funding is spent. A spokeswoman with Ivey’s office said an appointment had not been made as of Monday.

At his final meeting as chairman last month, Strong suggested part of the funding be used to bring broadband internet to unincorporated areas of the county.

“It is an expensive proposition that maybe some of this second pot of $36 million could be done there,” Strong said, saying the effort could include Google, Huntsville Utilities and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

“I think potentially, if this commission decides to put $15-20 million toward that, I think ADECA is willing to do $5 million,” he said.

Strong – now the 5th Congressional District’s representative in Congress – said federal funding depends on how dense the population, “but of course you’ve got to start somewhere.”