Rural areas in nine Alabama counties will see expanded broadband connections as a result of nearly $25 million in grants awarded Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey.

Ivey announced that the nine grants totaling $24.72 million were awarded to broadband providers across the state to support projects in unserved or underserved areas. Once the projects are complete, according to the governor’s announcement, about 20,000 households, businesses and community anchors will have access to high-speed internet.

The grants are the continuation of an ongoing push by the state to grow access to broadband.

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“Broadband continues to be a top priority of my administration, and as we continue to move into these next four years, we’re taking our broadband journey with us,” Ivey said in the announcement. “The projects underway reach across the state and will allow better access to opportunities in education, health care, business and other normalcies of life. Broadband is vital infrastructure, and our map continues to light up. I am pleased to support these transformative projects as we work toward achieving high-speed internet availability for every Alabamian.”

The broadband grants are the latest from the Broadband Accessibility Fund, established in 2021 and administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Grants from the fund adds up to $88.6 million in support of 109 projects across the state.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) administers Broadband Accessibility Fund grants from state government funds allocated by the Legislature. Funds are issued through ADECA’s Alabama Digital Expansion Division, which was created by legislation signed by Governor Ivey in 2021 to focus on broadband expansion in Alabama.

Including the grants announced today, Governor Ivey has awarded Broadband Accessibility Fund grants totaling $88.6 million to support 109 projects across Alabama since the fund’s start in 2018.

According to the governor’s announcement, grants awarded and affected areas are:

Cullman, Morgan, and Winston counties

Cullman Electric Cooperative: $4.58 million to provide broadband access for 1,356 households, businesses, and community anchors in parts of Cullman, Morgan, and Winston counties.

Winston County

Spectrum Southeast: $351,119 to provide broadband services for 715 households, businesses, and anchors in the vicinity of Double Springs and Lynn.

Tuscaloosa County

Spectrum Southeast: $2.45 million to provide broadband service access for 2,204 households, businesses, and community anchors in the vicinity of Coaling, Vance and Woodstock.

Bibb County

Spectrum Southeast: $1.02 million to provide broadband accessibility for up to 2,482 households, businesses, and anchors in the vicinities of Brent, Centreville, Vance, West Blocton and Woodstock.

Shelby County

Spectrum Southeast: $2.92 million to provide broadband service in the areas of Calera, Columbiana, Montevallo, Westover and Wilsonville with the potential to affect 4,412 households, businesses, and community anchors.

Baldwin and Escambia counties

Mediacom: $4.05 million to provide broadband service connectivity for 1,756 households, businesses and community anchors in northwest Baldwin County and southwest Escambia County between Bay Minette, and Atmore.

Baldwin County

Mediacom: $2.91 million to provide internet access affecting 1,895 households, businesses, and community anchors in an area near the city of Robertsdale.

Mobile County

Mediacom: $3.11 million to provide access for 2,824 households, businesses, and community anchors near the communities of Grand Bay and Wilmer.

Mediacom: $3.31 million to provide broadband service availability for 1,715 households, businesses, and community anchors near Mount Vernon.