NTCA Announces Smart Rural Community Grant Recipients

The NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association announced four Smart Rural Community Collaboration Challenge grant recipients as part of the association’s initiative to highlight and support efforts that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. The Collaboration Challenge grants promote broadband-enabled solutions for communities and support collaborative efforts in economic development, education, energy, health care and public safety. The SRC Collaboration Challenge grant recipients are:

• Nex-Tech (Lenora, KS) received a grant to support technology for a 10-shop educational model economy for middle school students.
• Star Communications (Clinton, NC) received a grant to support a Wi-Fi network for a volunteer emergency medical services and rescue company.
• Nelson Communications (Durand, WI) received a grant for a pilot program that will provide broadband-enabled elder care services.
• LivCom (Livingston, TX) received a grant to support community-based Wi-Fi access points for students in an area where 27% of families live below the poverty line.