Hometown Internet LLC, based in Berryville, has received a preliminary grant award of more than $88 million to expand broadband access in six Northwest Arkansas counties, the company’s chief executive officer said Saturday, Aug. 23.

Under the preliminary grant awards, Hometown Internet would receive $88,455.722.48 to help pay for a $112 million project aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure to locations that are currently unserved or underserved, said Rodney Ballance, the company’s majority owner and CEO.

The funding, which will be allocated through the state broadband office, comes from a federal grant of more than $1 billion through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.

Ballance expressed his thanks to state Rep. Harlan Breaux as well as mayors and county officials as well as Dean Lee and Sandy Martin of the Carroll County Collaborative, which helped raise public awareness of the available grant funding and encouraged residents to check their current broadband accessibility and eligibility for grant funding.

Ballance said he will be conducting “town hall” type meetings in every community allowing residents to see exactly where the fiber will be deployed.

He anticipates the creation of 100 jobs over the next 12 months, Ballance said.