Congressman Bishop Applauds Georgia Distribution of More Than $10 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Help Improve Rural Education

Press Release

Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) applauded last week's announcement by the Georgia Department of Education's (GaDOE) Office of Rural Education & Innovation that it will be distributing funds from the American Rescue Plan to support rural schools and districts by including funding to expand internet connectivity and promote workforce development throughout the State and in Georgia's Second Congressional District. Altogether, over 80 schools and 10 counties are being awarded funds in the district.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly strained our education system. It highlighted the need for better broadband connectivity in our rural communities so that children can remain connected to their teachers," said Congressman Bishop. "Reopening -- and keeping our schools open -- safely as well as closing the "homework gap' by expanding broadband internet access have been challenges for schools across the country. Earlier this year, I fought in Congress to pass the American Rescue Plan to meet these challenges and today these funds can be used to improve the lives of thousands of students across middle and southwest Georgia."

To increase connectivity throughout the state and in rural areas, six counties in Georgia's Second Congressional District will receive grant reimbursements of $40,000 each from the GaDOE's Office of Rural Education & Innovation and GaDOE's Office of Technology. This will be used to help them upgrade their current equipment to handle increased capacity and allow them to fully utilize expanded internet bandwidth.

These funds were made available through additional funds to the U.S. Department of Education's Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund made possible by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021. Congressman Bishop helped craft and lead the effort to pass this emergency funding by this past December. 39 counties and 4 cities across Georgia are able to improve their internet connectivity through these federal funds.

The $40,000 (per county) grant reimbursement will be divided by:

Five schools in Crisp County;
Seven schools in Grady County;
Eight schools in Lee County;
Fifty-three schools in Muscogee County;
Six schools in Peach County; and
Seven schools in Sumter County.
In conjunction with GaDOE Office of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, GaDOE's Office of Rural Education & Innovation awarded eleven school districts a total of $9,952,853 to equip middle and southwest Georgia middle and high schools with the tools they need to safely open and stay open so that students receive hands-on, industry-standard instruction in career pathways. The funds are part of the American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program.

Ironically, no Republicans in the U.S. House or U.S. Senate voted to pass the American Rescue Plan which made these much needed funds possible to 7 cities and 50 counties across the state.

The allocations are as follows:

Colquitt County was awarded $38,960.
Decatur County was awarded $98,750.
Early County was awarded $100,000.
Lee County was awarded $47,195.
Miller County was awarded $99,956.
Mitchell County was awarded $100,000.
Randolph County was awarded $100,000.
Schley County was awarded $90,986.
Seminole County was awarded $100,000.
Terrell County was awarded $77,006.
The City of Pelham was awarded $100,000.

Source