(Matt Drzik/Beaver County Radio)
On March 24, 2022, the push to “close the digital divide” in Beaver County was made official.
The Beaver County Office of Planning and Redevelopment launched “Connect Beaver County” on Thursday at a press conference at the Western Beaver School District in Industry. BCOPR President Lance Grable was joined by several fellow county leaders and state representatives at the conference; all of whom were firmly enthusiastic about the launch of this program.
“What Beaver County is doing is amazing,” remarked State Representative Pam Snyder of Greene County. “I have never felt so good about an issue as I do with what we have done here and what we are gonna be able to do for every Pennsylvanian.” Snyder co-sponsored House Bill 2071 to develop the PA Broadband Development Authority. The bill was advanced to become Act 96 with the help of Beaver County State Representatives Jim Marshall and Rob Matzie, who were in attendance.
The Connect Beaver County program will focus on five key issues regarding broadband:
- Creating new broadband service
- A new digital navigator program
- Connecting towers owned by the county
- Establishing a broadband utility connection fund
- Continued analysis and data collection towards digital equity
The immediate actions of Connect Beaver County are the launch of their website–connectbeavercounty.com–and the start of two broadband service installations in northern Beaver County. One will be in Hanover Township covering Hanover Kendall Road, Airline Drive, and Hanny Beaver Road–the other will be along Route 551 (along with Stitt Road) covering Big Beaver, South Beaver, and Darlington Townships.
“This is exciting to us,” said Lew Vilotti of the Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development, “because not only can we say that Beaver County is on the forefront, but it will also provide an essential service that allows us to grow our companies, start new ones, to keep them here, and to attract them.”
Also in attendance were Commissioner Chairman Dan Camp, State Representative Josh Kail, EMS director Eric Brewer, Jeremy Jurick of Michael Baker International, and Dr. Eric Rosendale of the Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit.
Along with the new website, Connect Beaver County can be reached through email or by calling (724) 495-4300.