Commission gives verbal support to apply for $100,000 broadband grant for downtown Wi-Fi

HICKMAN COUNTY — County economic-development staff asked the commission for verbal approval to apply for a $100,000 state broadband accessibility grant to fund free public Wi‑Fi on the downtown square and at the Ag Pavilion, and commissioners verbally supported the application.

An unnamed economic and community development staff member told commissioners the grant is "noncompeting" and "non match," adding the state had confirmed the $100,000 was earmarked for Hickman County. The staff member said the project would place free Wi‑Fi access points on the public square and at the Ag Pavilion to support vendors and visitors, and that Mary Rea Lewis of MLL Connect, Main Street and the Chamber had partnered on the proposal.

"It's noncompeting. The state has confirmed this $100,000 is solely carved out and allocated to Hickman County only," the staff member said. The staff member also said the grant requires no local match and must be completed by October.

The proposal included a 6% administrative fee that would go to South Central Development, the presenter said. Commissioners were asked for verbal support rather than a formal resolution; a commissioner seconded the request and no formal roll-call vote was recorded in the meeting transcript.

If secured, county staff said the Wi‑Fi network would be intended for public use during festivals and everyday square activity, and could also be an access point for future digital-hub programming tied to an entrepreneurship center in the Main Street offices.