The Warren County Commissioners have selected a consultant to be tasked with leading efforts to expand broadband access in Warren County.

CTC Technology & Energy out of Kensington, Md. was the firm selected in a unanimous decision Wednesday.

Officials initially planned to use the lion’s share of its $7.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding on broadband projects but have shifted focus to contracting with a broadband consultant as part of using the funds as match for additional federal dollars.

County officials believe more households can be reached using the county’s funds as a match.

A total of five firms submitted proposals as part of the process.

Commissioner Tricia Durbin said the board has “had numerous conversations with a number of consultants,” meeting with each of the five.

She said the proposal presented ranged from $70,000 to over $1 million.

A final contract with CTC has not been hammered out but the price range is expected to be around $300,000. That contract will have to come back before the commissioners once terms are agreed to.

“CTC had the most flexible proposal,” Commissioner Jeff Eggleston said, noting that the firm is “geared toward” the technical work that will be needed. “(We) need something that’s going to be actionable.”

Durbin explained that CTC has a “separate division that just deals with counties and municipalities and rural markets” with “specific awareness and expertise” that will inform “where we are and where we can go.”

The commissioners also took a member to recognize some unsung community heroes, approving a proclamation for Foster Care Awareness Month.

Eggleston said he doesn’t think he can say enough about the county’s foster parents. He said he ran into a foster parent who adopted the child they were caring for.

“I thought where he might be otherwise,” he said.

“We always need foster homes,” Chuck Howe, caseworker with Forest-Warren Human Services, said. “Those are things that are an ongoing need…. (We) appreciate everything that they do and all that our homes have been doing. They’re all wonderful, wonderful people.”