In early 2023, Connect Humanity invested $500,000 as part of a $3.9 million broadband project in Macon County, Alabama. This initiative aimed to bridge the digital divide in a region where high-speed internet was scarce.

Joe Turnham, Director of the Macon County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) understood the digital divide was a dampener to economic growth and made tackling it a priority: “I knew pretty quickly we may go out of business here if we didn’t address the broadband issue. We couldn’t build a future like that.”

How it started

Before the project, Macon County residents and businesses struggled with unreliable or nonexistent internet connections. Forty percent (40%) of residents lacked internet at sufficient broadband speeds. For those with an adequate connection, costs were high, with over half of residents reporting having to cut spending on food and other essentials to pay their broadband bill.

The impact was felt across the community:

• Education Disparities: Local schools DC Wolfe Elementary and Notasulga High lacked reliable, high-speed connectivity. Students without home internet frequently sat in parking lots by City Hall to access weak Wi-Fi signals to complete homework.
• Business Disruptions: Local businesses frequently lost internet service, making it impossible to process digital payments, run ATMs, or complete banking transactions.
• Limited Remote Work Opportunities: During the COVID-19 pandemic Macon County residents found it nearly impossible to work from home. Residents couldn’t compete for the growing number of remote job opportunities.

How it’s going

Through a partnership with Connect Humanity, Rural LISC, and Point Broadband, the county was able to structure the necessary funding to build fiber broadband infrastructure at a speed and scale that otherwise would not have been possible, initially making fiber available to 1,400 additional homes, businesses, and community institutions.

The expansion of high-speed internet has been a game-changer for Macon County’s economy:

• Attracting Major Investments: Fiber was instrumental in securing Samkee Corp.’s $128 million investment in an auto parts manufacturing facility in Tuskegee. The facility brought 172 jobs with $20+/hour wages and contributes an estimated $37 million annually to the county’s GDP.
• Healthcare Innovations: With enhanced connectivity, Tuskegee University launched Alabama’s first OnMed Care Station, offering telehealth services to 3,000 students and the broader community, reducing barriers to medical care.
• Growing a logistics hub: The improved digital infrastructure catalyzed $20 million in Phase 1 of the Regional East Alabama Logistics (REAL) Park, projected to attract $386 million in capital investment and create over 1,800 jobs.

The Power of Partnerships

Macon County shows that with local leadership and the right partners, it is possible to sustainably build the digital infrastructure needed to transform economies and bring new opportunities.

The ripple effects of this investment are profound. Connect Humanity’s $500k investment secured a $3.9 million fiber network deployment that helped bring $183 million in community investments (and counting) and 2,000 new jobs. Point Broadband has since leveraged the initial investment to expand beyond the original 1,400 locations, now reaching over 5,500 facilities. Beyond the immediate economic benefits, the community stands to see improved healthcare outcomes, increased access to educational tools, and local businesses that can compete in a digital marketplace.

“From the businesses being served — including Samkee America and our new logistics park — to the many families now able to access world-class connectivity, this project is generationally transformational for our community.”

Joe Turnham, Director of Macon County Economic Development Authority

Macon County’s story is a taste of what’s possible through strategic investments in community-centric broadband. Across our portfolio, we’re seeing similar ripple-effects. We’re just getting started — imagine what we can achieve at scale.

This work was possible thanks to the generous support of the Truist Foundation.

If you’re a funder or investor ready to make an impact with your capital, reach out at erica@connecthumanity.fund.