WHITE COUNTY, Ga. – Kathy Papa of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs presented the Georgia Broadband Ready Community Certificate to the White County Board of Commissioners at Monday’s regular meeting.

Papa said, “This is a great opportunity to recognize White County for taking steps to incorporate broadband into your comprehensive process, eliminate obstacles, at the local level and acknowledge and demonstrate it takes local leadership to meet an ongoing need. The broadband designation reflects White County’s commitment to improving the reliability speed and capacity for businesses, residents and visitors to the county.”

Director of Community and Economic Development John Sell, who worked on drafting a broadband ordinance, said, “We are willing to work with providers to simplify the process of permitting and inspection of any buildout of our infrastructure. Sell added that the community is in the process of applying for state and federal dollars and the certificate would give White County an advantage over other counties that are not broadband ready.

Commissioners also approved a request by Trent Hillsman, Special Agent in Charge of the GBI and Appalachian Drug Enforcement Office (ARDEO) to apply for the $500,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG). No funds are provided from the county’s general fund for the grant.

The Board also approved a three-year contract with Dell Marketing L.P. for Microsoft volume licensing in the amount of $34,429.