Clarion County commissioners announced Tuesday the county expects to receive a $3,477,000 COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
The grant may be used for a number of expenses incurred from the coronavirus pandemic, including broadband development.
“That is a major part of our grant application,” said Commissioner Ted Tharan. “Many people had to work from home during the quarantine and many rural areas do not have broadband. That is one of the things we want to concentrate on.”
“This was a golden opportunity on our doorstep,” said Tharan. “It was imperative that we act now.”
The county’s new tower near Leeper will fall under the grant. Earlier this year, the commissioners approved a contract on behalf of the county’s public safety department with Tower Service Unlimited for a communications tower and concrete shelter placement at the Leeper communications site.
Total cost of the project is $313,767.
The concrete building will house the electronic switching equipment and a generator.
The application was prepared by several county employees and sent to the county’s consultant, Delta, for review.
“We are 99 percent certain we will get the grant,” said Tharan. “We anticipate getting the money by July 15. The grant must be expended by Dec. 31.”