GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Greenfield city councilors met with the Greenfield Community Energy and Technology, or GCET, officials, to discuss funding and status on the North Build – a project aimed to bring internet service to Bernardston Road, Green River Road, Colrain Road, and Meadow Lane, which is proving to be costly and lengthy, largely because the utility poles are owned by Verizon and Eversource who have complex processes for licensing use of the utility poles.
The city has previously given $600,000 in ARPA funds to GCET and former Mayor Wedegartner promised an additional $400,000, which is only partially expected to be used for the build out. The $600,000 in ARPA funds has been used for equipment, labor, engineering, and make-ready for utility poles in the build out. Of the additional $400,000 only approximately $100,000 is expected to be used on the North Build.
GCET officials shared that the city has paid off all of their city bonds, so no taxpayer dollars are being used for the build out.