The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority announced on Thursday that more than $1.2 million in grant funding has been awarded to German Township to bolster internet access within the community.
“This grant provides the township with an opportunity to make some municipal building upgrades, as well as provide a safe and secure location for people to come and use computers and have broadband access,” said township Supervisor L.C. Otto.
The $1,242,251 grant will be used to add a multipurpose community building to the township’s municipal complex that will serve as a hub for various civic activities and public services as well as provide more members of the community access to broadband internet.
“Broadband connectivity is such a critical need to succeed in life,” Otto said. “And everyone should be entitled to have connectivity in their homes, but in the meantime, until we can get that done, people will have a safe place they can come and use the internet locally.”
Along with a computer lab, Otto said the new facility will allow local community groups such as Scouts or church groups a space to conduct meetings. Additionally, there are plans to include spaces for the police department and sewage authority to provide a “convenient one-stop” location.
“Right now we’re in multiple locations, so it’s very inconvenient for our residents,” Otto said. “So now we’re going to have a location for the supervisors, water authority and police department to be in the same spot.”
Otto said the process of applying for the grant was a collaborative effort, stating state Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa and state Sen. Pat Stefano helped guide supervisors. Otto said Widmer Engineering in Connellsville and McMillen Engineering Uniontown were also instrumental in the efforts.
“It was definitely a team effort,” Otto said.
Access to reliable internet has been an issue for Fayette County. In 2022 the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission found that 7,100 households and businesses in the county had download speeds of less than 25 megabits per second (Mbps) compared to the average speed of about 242 Mbps.
“For far too long, rural Pennsylvania has been left behind when it comes to high-speed internet access,” Krupa said. “So many facets of our life work under a false assumption that everyone has broadband available at home. While we still have a long way to go, this project will give folks in German Township a reliable internet connection for whatever their needs may be.”
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