Okanogan County advances broadband expansion with $500K ARPA funding, targets 2025 completion

OKANOGAN – Representatives of the Economic Alliance, Okanogan County PUD, and PUD Board of Commissioners met with the Board of Okanogan County Commissioners (BOCC) on Jan. 29 to discuss the funding and timeline extension for the Conconully phase of broadband installation in the county.

The Commissioners have allotted $500,000 of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds to the PUD for the Conconully broadband built. Some details in the current contract raised concerns over how the funds would be applied – for planning or construction – and how much time the PUD would have to complete the project.

“In the current contract it states that the funding must be used by October 2024,” said Holder-Diefenbach. “That’s a very fast turnaround for the PUD, especially with supply chain issues. But it also says the BOCC can extend the date.” 

Hover explained that ARPA required a commitment deadline.

“We did that because by the end of this year, we needed to have all of this allocated,” said Hover, “It has to be spent by the end of 2026.”

“If you are willing to extend us to 2025, we will we have it done,” said Ron Gadeberg, the PUD’s Director of Power Resources and Broadband Services.

The PUD also prefers that the ARPA funds be applied to construction materials rather than planning, a welcome change for the BOCC. 

“We plan to do the design—full, bid-ready documents, permits, everything we’d need, and we plan on it being done this year,” said Gadeberg. “We will probably be ready to purchase things for the projects in the fall of 2024. I’m worried we may not receive it until the next spring.”

Hover said the BOCC would make changes and extend the project as the PUD requests.

“We just need the verbiage in the contract and if you need an extension,” Hover said.

“We’re going to get to Conconully and all the people along the road,” said PUD Board of Commissioners Vice President Scott Vejraska.

“We got two estimates: $3,550,000 and $3,800,000, close to each other and that reassured us that it’s in the ballpark,” said Gadeberg. “Materials are coming in at about $416,000-plus for poles. $616,000 for materials, which should cover the $500,000.”

Gadeberg added that the PUD also has applied for public works grant/loan combos, 30 percent grant, 70 percent loan with a low .46 percent interest rate. 

“We’ll have it all by 2025,” said Gadeberg.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media