Hometown Internet LLC, based in Berryville, was awarded more than $88 million in grant funding on Tuesday, April 28, to expand high-speed internet access to more than 16,500 locations.
The state legislature’s Joint Budget Committee unanimously approved the appropriation of funds under the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. In all, the committee gave the OK for $176.5 million.
Rodney Ballance, Hometown’s owner and chief executive officer, said the funding will help the company deliver fiber internet to locations that are currently unserved or underserved in six Northwest Arkansas counties. In addition, Ballance said, the company has a $47 million contract for a similar project in Missouri.
“This will replace or be an upgrade for anybody who currently has fixed wireless or telephone-related internet,” Ballance said. “It will be state-of-the-art internet connections. And it’s federal grants with the states overseeing the distribution of the money.”
All of the operations will be based out of Berryville’s industrial park, Ballance said, emphasizing his appreciation for Mayor Tim McKinney and city economic development director Dean Lee.
Ballance said the project will require some engineering and environmental studies.
“We anticipate getting shovels dirty, probably in August … September at the latest, getting the project started,” he said.
Ballance said the new service will be a “package deal,” providing television as well as internet service through the company’s FreshStream TV platform.
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.
Preliminary awards were announced in August 2025, pending final approval.
Ballance said he anticipated the project will create at least 100 jobs in a 12-month period.
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