HTML Coverpage Q4Board of Supervisors 2022
Financial Stability and Core ServicesEmergency PreparednessEconomic DevelopmentBroadbandCannabisHousingHomelessnessRecreation
Initiative DetailsCollect Quarterly Cannabis Business TaxesIncrease availability of rental and mortgage assistance funding to prevent individuals and families from slipping into homelessness and implement a CoC-wide diversion strategyExpand services and housing opportunities to transition aged youth and families with children to prevent entry into the adult homeless system and long-term homelessness.Continue to support and strengthen outreach, engagement, and case managementStrengthen housing focused case management and post housing supportive servicesExpand year-round shelter capacityComplete the Programmatic EIR and expand the permitting “tool kit” to facilitate broadband.Expand and strengthen non-congregant, navigation-based, interim housing optionsFacilitate and promote partnerships for the development of affordable and supportive housingManage the “Last-Mile” Broadband Grant program with Sierra Business Council.Implement a centralized Landlord Liaison Program (LLP)Support system wide improvement to data collection measures, collaboration on funding opportunities, and implementation of the County-CoC joint strategic planUpdate the County's “Broadband Strategy”Fund and implement the Dig-Once policyStrengthen the coordinated multi-disciplinary case conferencing team (Homeless Resource Team)Engage and inform the community about County efforts to expand BroadbandSeek grant funding and advocate at state and federal level for broadband.Control Staffing Levels and County Costs by Reviewing All Requests for Staffing Changes and Vacancies for Revenue Availability and Staffing Alternatives.Housing Master Plans ProjectSupport TourismCultivate economic diversification, sustainability and equityImplement Technology, Roads and Facilities Projects as Identified in the County's Financial Management Plans.Establish infrastructure, further projects and plans to support economic vitalitySeek Funding and Advocate for Economic Development PrioritiesSupport business attraction, retention and growthDevelop Recreation and Resiliency Master Plan.Promote health and safety at river crossings, lakes, trailheads, and other high-use or high-risk areas.Enhance recreation access, health and safety, economic development, and resource conservation.Support capacity and sustainability of Western Nevada County organized recreation.Identify funding mechanisms and act on advocacy priorities to sustain recreation.Staff recreation collaborative(s) to promote countywide coordination.Establish partnerships to advance and undertake broadband construction projects.Increase Collection of Delinquent TaxesIncrease Countywide Fiscal Expertise Through Training, Reporting and CollaborationReduce Hazardous Vegetation on County-Maintained Roads and County Owned PropertyEnsure Healthy Performance of County General FundMaintain Collaborative Illegal Cannabis Cultivation Enforcement ProgramResearch New Cannabis License TypesMaintain a Cannabis Permitting ProgramIncrease availability of rental and mortgage assistance funding to prevent individuals and families from slipping into homelessness and implement a CoC-wide diversion strategyExpand services and housing opportunities to transition aged youth and families with children to prevent entry into the adult homeless system and long-term homelessness.Strengthen housing focused case management and post housing supportive servicesExpand year-round shelter capacityImplement a centralized Landlord Liaison Program (LLP)Facilitate and promote partnerships for the development of affordable and supportive housingExpand and strengthen non-congregant, navigation-based, interim housing optionsSupport system wide improvement to data collection measures, collaboration on funding opportunities, and implementation of the County-CoC joint strategic planStrengthen the coordinated multi-disciplinary case conferencing team (Homeless Resource Team)Continue to support and strengthen outreach, engagement, and case managementHazard MitigationRecovery
On Target

Manage the “Last-Mile” Broadband Grant program with Sierra Business Council.

Board of Supervisors 2022

Description

Expediting access to the internet for all residents is the goal of the County’s “Last-Mile Broadband Grant Program.” The Board established the program in 2019 with Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) dollars intended to promote economic development. The program is managed under contract with the Sierra Business Council with oversight from the County's Broadband Work Group.

In April 2021, the County awarded $500,000 for the second round of the "Last-Mile Broadband Grant Program" to four local internet service providers (ISP); broadband service will be offered to 440 households to support distance learning, remote working, and tele-medicine.  The four ISPs include Nevada County Fiber, Inc., Northern Sierra Fiber, Oasis Broadband, and Spiral Fiber, Inc., who each offered unique and innovative approaches to expanding broadband in areas challenged by both the geographic infrastructure challenges and the low population density. 

Following the Board's 2022 Workshop, the Board directed staff to allocate at least $250,000 for Round 3 “Last-Mile” grants from the Economic Development Infrastructure assignment of the General Fund. 

Progress Update

Q4-22

In the last quarter of 2022, we saw this progress among the Last-Mile Grant (LMG) recipients:

  • Nevada County Fiber, which is providing underground fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), has now completed its 2020/2021 Last-Mile Grant, connecting 16 homes to internet service. The 2021/2022 grant is 36% complete as of 12/1/2022, with a temporary pause while they work on the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) grant awarded by the State of California. The state grant will fund 28 FTTH connections based on the Nevada County LMG infrastructure. All connections have experienced zero downtime since February 2022 despite numerous power outages. Nevada County Fiber is in ongoing conversations with the County about micro trenching as a cost-effective way to lay infrastructure and is now registered as an 811 Dig Alert member.
  • Oasis Broadband completed their 2020/2021 Last-Mile Grant in October 2022 (Prosser Dam Rd./Pannonia area), connecting 51 customers out of 78 residences suitable for service (65% market penetration). Interested customers may continue to sign up for services. Oasis Broadband came in under budget by $10,486.
  • Regarding the 2021/2022 Last-Mile Grant award (Dog Valley Area), after extensive site testing, Oasis determined it cannot service the entire grant area originally proposed due to the necessity of an unplanned 100’ cell tower, which doubles the cost of the project and cannot be cost-effectively installed within the terms of the grant agreement and budget. Therefore, Oasis has declined that grant award and hopes to identify alternative future opportunities to partner with Nevada County.
  • Northern Sierra Broadband has completed the cleaning, repair, and preparation of all conduit for their project, which will be 70% underground fiber with 30% aerial fixed wireless on the perimeter.
  • Spiral Fiber's project is not proceeding, but portions of the project design may be integrated into the Golden State Connect Authority project.

Linked Measures

Not Defined
Last-Mile Broadband Connections
Board of Supervisors 2022

Next Steps

Q4-22

In the first quarter of 2023, continue working with the Last-Mile Grant recipients to complete their projects.

We will also prepare the 3rd round of the Last-Mile Grant program, which provides grants to offset costs for internet expansion projects around the county.

Not Defined

Last-Mile Broadband Connections
Last-Mile Broadband Connections

Chart

Bar chart with 2 data series.
Last-Mile Broadband Connections (Chart Type: Column) Plot Bands 2021 # of connections: 450.00 County investment (in thousands): 500.00 2022 # of connections: No Value County investment (in thousands): No Value
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Range: 0 to 600.
End of interactive chart.

Objectives

On Target
Broadband
Board of Supervisors 2022