GAINESBORO-As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, the Foundation of Rural Service (FRS) offers aid for communities served by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association members, including Twin Lakes, through its annual Community Grants Program.

These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America.

Twin Lakes is pleased to announce East 52 Volunteer Fire Department, Clay County ThreeStar Program, Pine Haven Elementary, and Dodson Branch School as four of 26 recipients receiving a portion of $100,000 in FRS grants.

East 52 Volunteer Fire Department received $550 to further equip them with modern technology to assist them with CPR, AED, and First Aid training.

Clay County ThreeStar Program received $5,000 to assist them with broadband and telephone service for a program that will benefit the under-employed and unemployed citizens.

Pine Haven Elementary received $5,000 to purchase Boxlight Touch Boards for their shared STEM learning space.

Dodson Branch School received $5,000 to purchase Chromebooks that will be used for guided learning activities and state test preparation for students.

The grants, coupled with access to broadband-enabled solutions, will improve educational offerings, local job markets, the ability to provide telemedicine and first response emergency services, and more.

“The Foundation for Rural Service is so humbled by the work of our grant awardees,” said FRS Executive Director Pam Becker. “It is an honor to hear their stories of collaboration with and dedication to the communities they serve. We are grateful for their hard work, the amazing telcos that endorsed them, and our generous donors that contribute to the grant program.”

For a complete list of awardees, visit https://www.frs.org/programs/grant-program/community-grant/recipients. 

FRS Community Grant donors are: Womble Bond Dickinson, Ericsson, NISC, Mapcom Systems, RTFC, and Toly Digital.

The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and its members, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. Through scholarships, grants, and a variety of educational programs, FRS focuses on educating rural youth, encouraging community development and introducing policymakers to challenges unique to rural communities. Visit us at www.frs.org.

NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. In an era of transformative technological advancements, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.