HTML Coverpage Q3Board of Supervisors 2023Information and General Services
Financial Stability and Core ServicesEmergency PreparednessEconomic DevelopmentBroadbandHousingHomelessnessRecreationClimate Resilience
Initiative DetailsComplete the Programmatic EIR and expand the permitting “tool kit” to facilitate broadband.Manage the “Last-Mile” Broadband Grant program with Sierra Business Council.Update the County's “Broadband Strategy.”Fund and implement the "Dig-Once" policy.Engage and inform the community about County efforts to expand broadband.Seek grant funding and advocate at state and federal level for broadband.Housing Master Plans ProjectSupport potential high growth sector developmentCultivate economic diversification, sustainability and equityEstablish infrastructure, further projects and plans to support economic vitalitySeek funding and advocate for economic development prioritiesSupport business attraction, retention and growthFinalize and approve the Nevada County 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.Community CoordinationMonitor economically sensitive revenues Reduce Hazardous Vegetation on County-Maintained Roads and County Owned PropertyEnsure healthy fund balances in major operating fundsPrepare and implement long-term financial plansDevelop and manage County budgetClimate Strategic PlanHarden Critical InfrastructureEnhance Carbon Storage and SequestrationFunding and AdvocacyHazard MitigationRecoveryIncrease 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 management
On Target
Manage the “Last-Mile” Broadband Grant program with Sierra Business Council.
Board of Supervisors 2023

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

Nevada County Fiber completed its Last-Mile grant application with the project complete. Currently Norther Sierra Broadband Last-Mile grant is still under development.

Linked Measures

Caution
Last-Mile Broadband Connections
Board of Supervisors 2023

Next Steps

The next round of the Last-Mile Grant Program will be aimed ad launching in March of 2024 with the goal of awarding by July of 2024. The next round of the program will leverage American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds which are requested to be allocated next calendar year and used by 2025.

Caution

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 2023 # 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 2023