One placeholder in the Carbon COVID-19 Relief Block Grant is worth $500,000 and aims to help those who don’t have sufficient internet.

On Thursday, Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that the board of commissioners will be sending out requests after next week’s meeting asking for proposals to enhance broadband in Carbon County for the underserved and not served at all areas.

Carbon County has received a total of $5.79 million through the CARES Act to use strictly on COVID-19 related activities to offset the cost of direct county COVID-19 response; assist businesses and municipalities; provide behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services; fund nonprofit assistance programs; and deploy broadband to unserved or underserved areas.

Lukasevich said the county sent requests out to the area school districts asking for data to help identify areas of notable need.

He thanked Weatherly Area School District, which provided approximately 120 specific addresses based on surveys their families completed ahead of this school year that will be able to be used by GIS Mapping to pinpoint specific areas of need.

“That will help feed into the process and assessment of any proposals that might be brought forth in enhancing broadband through projects or product,” he said.