DORA Awards $2 Million in Broadband Grants for Beaver Hill & Cedar Mesa

Elevate Awarded $2 Million in Broadband Grants

October 12, 2020 – Last week, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) Broadband Board awarded more than $2 Million in grants to Elevate, DMEA’s local fiber internet company, to help construct its network in two out-of-the-way places within Montrose and Delta counties.
 
The lucky recipients? Rural citizens living southwest of Montrose and north and east of Cedaredge. Offsetting up to 50% or more of the cost of constructing the fiber network, these grants make it possible for Elevate to provide 1 Gig (1,000 Mbps) in some of its most far-reaching places. 
 
Elevate submitted two proposals to DORA’s 2020 summer funding cycle: Beaver Hill (Montrose area) and Cedar Mesa (Cedaredge area). DORA awarded approximately $850,000 to Elevate to help build a fiber network in Beaver Hill and almost $1.2 Million for network construction in Cedar Mesa.
 
“We are thrilled that DORA has, once again, entrusted us with grant funds to build our fiber network and bring better internet to our rural areas. These funds make it possible to bring truly great internet service to some of the most underserved parts of our territory,” said Kent Blackwell, Elevate and DMEA Chief Technology Officer.
 
While there are still numerous steps left before Elevate can secure the funding and begin construction, rural citizens in these areas can take comfort knowing they are now one step closer to better internet.