Northwest Fiberworx Receives $20.2M for Construction Grant

​June 24, 2024
 
SAINT ALBANS, VT – The Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) on May 13 awarded Northwest Vermont Communications Union District d/b/a Northwest Fiberworx (NWFX) a $20.2 million ARPA grant that will allow the Franklin/Grand Isle County company to begin building out a fiber internet network.  Northwest Fiberworx is a nonprofit special purpose municipality that has 22 member towns as part of its communications union district that will benefit from this build.
The communities in Franklin & Grand Isle Counties of Vermont that NWFX represents are, Alburgh, Bakersfield, Berkshire, Enosburgh, Fairfield, Franklin, Fairfax, Georgia, Grand Isle, Highgate, Isle la Motte, Milton, Montgomery, North Hero, Richford, Saint Albans Town, Sheldon, South Hero, Swanton, Village of Alburgh, Village of Enosburg Falls and Village of Swanton.
 
This funding enables Northwest Fiberworx to move forward with its infrastructure design and deployment plans for construction in these towns.
 
The ARPA funding that is being awarded to Northwest Fiberworx will provide a sustainable network, access to affordable broadband services and participate in the Affordable Connectivity Program or any future comparable program.  Most of all this build will help provide universal access to every unserved/underserved premise in the district.
 
Northwest Fiberworx Network Operations Manager, Mary Kay Raymond states, “We have a unique model, that of which we will build, own and maintain a fiber-to-the-premise open-access network.”
 
NWFX construction model is also divided into phases, this $20.2 million grant will allow NWFX to begin Phase 1.  Phase 1 goals are to serve the regions most needed communities for broadband services.  Reaching over 3,800 Total unserved and underserved passed premises. This will also provide a strong financial model for future funding. Raymond states, “NWFX is actively moving forward to begin preparations for construction with our partners GWI (Great Works Internet) to begin deployment.  We look forward to working with each of our member communities to break the digital divide and provide an economic impact as well as providing them with high-speed internet.”