This EDA investment supports the state of missouri and its regional councils of governments as they seek to promote economic resilience and equity in the state's regions through the development of…

This $1,227,500 project grant from the Economic Development Administration within the Department of Commerce supports the development of broadband modeling, engineering feasibility plans, and technical assistance in Missouri. Awarded on September 9, 2021, the funding assists the Missouri Association of Councils of Government and its regional planning commissions to create eight regional broadband cluster plans and provide statewide broadband planning support. This project enables the Economic Adjustment Assistance program's goals of addressing adverse economic changes by strengthening Missouri's regional economies and private sector investment through improved broadband infrastructure and regional pandemic recovery efforts. The plans and studies developed with this grant position the state and its local partners to make data-driven decisions enhancing broadband availability and resilience across Missouri communities and businesses.

This EDA investment supports the state of missouri and its regional councils of governments as they seek to promote economic resilience and equity in the state's regions through the development of broadband modeling and engineering feasibility plans for eight regional clusters and the provision of broadband planning technical assistance to all regions of the state. The plans and studies developed through this project will position the state and its regional planning commissions to have the best possible data and tools to support their efforts to assist with regional recovery from and resilience to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic related to limited existing broadband availability in certain regions of the state and to create a more resilient broadband infrastructure for the whole state and its residents and businesses. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the missouri association of councils of governments (MACOG). Through their designation as individual EDA economic development districts, EDA funds the regional councils of governments and planning commissions that compose MACOG to bring together the public and private sectors to create economic development roadmaps to strengthen their regional economies, to support private capital investment, and to create jobs.