The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) announced on April 23 that Vineland was chosen as a recipient of part of a historic $40 million investment in Internet connectivity in a New Jersey Broadband Infrastructure Deployment Equity (NJBIDE) Pilot Program grant. These grants support critical broadband expansion efforts across the state.
Locally, two other government entities—Borough of Penns Grove and County of Salem—also received funding. The approved investment will provide reliable, high-quality internet service to over 9,000 broadband serviceable (BSL) locations across the state.
The NJBIDE grant awards will also support broadband infrastructure projects in Atlantic, Burlington, Essex, Sussex, and Warren counties. Corporate awardees include Brightspeed (Connect Holding II LLC), and Verizon New Jersey Inc. The list of awards is available on the Office of Broadband Connectivity (OBC) web page.
Recipients were chosen for their commitment to bridging the digital divide and delivering high-speed internet access to unserved and underserved communities.
“This historic investment to ‘connect the unconnected’ answers the call we have heard throughout the state,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Access to broadband is a necessity in the modern world and the funding awarded through the NJBIDE program will help connect areas not currently served by a high-quality internet connection, spurring opportunity, economic growth, and putting social mobility within reach for communities and families throughout the Garden State.”
To find out more, visit nj.gov/bpu
