A Verizon project in Warren County funded by the state Broadband Development Authority will bring high-speed internet to more than 1,200 homes in Warren County.

The award was part of a 53 project, 42 county, $204 million award for the Broadband Infrastructure Program grant.

That $204 million is matched by an additional $200 million in private investment and aims to connect 40,000 homes and businesses statewide.

Verizon Pennsylvania LLC was awarded $4.7 million for a $9.9 million project “that will bring high-speed broadband services over Verizon’s fiber-optic network to an estimated 1220 homes in Warren County,” the county said in a statement.

Communities to be impacted by the project include Warren, Russell, Clarendon, Ludlow, Spring Creek, Irvine, Pittsfield and Youngsville.

The county says the grant — originally part of the federal Capital Projects Fund — will cover “line extension and development projects, as well as large-scale regional infrastructure projects.”

A minimum speed of 100 mbps must be delivered.

“Access to high-speed broadband service is no longer a luxury; quite simply, it is a necessity that our residents and businesses demand of us,” the county’s statement explained. “Completion of Verizon’s Project will enable our constituents to participate in remote work opportunities and will enable our students to use technology to participate in virtual learning and complete their homework assignments.”

“The PBDA has worked hard to ensure Pennsylvania receives the funding we need to address access and connectivity issues impacting communities across the Commonwealth – and today’s allocation of $204 million in awards is a significant step forward in getting more Pennsylvanians connected to high-speed, affordable internet,” PBDA Executive Director Brandon Carson said. “As Pennsylvanians increasingly rely on broadband to live healthy and productive lives, expanding access to the internet is essential to creating opportunity for folks all across our Commonwealth. These projects will leverage historic federal funding and private investment to connect communities to the internet – and the PBDA will continue working to make this a reality for even more Pennsylvanians.”

County officials say that the project will “enable local businesses within and near unserved and underserved areas to attract talented employees and compete in the marketplace.”

The county “coordinating with Verizon as a local jurisdictional partner on this project.”

The work is expected to start this year and be completed by December 2026.

“Warren County Commissioners, with support from Insight Technology consultant Bill Gallagher, continue to engage providers to find solutions to the complex residential broadband problem that exists in our rural county,” the county said. “The County looks forward to partnering with Verizon as this project progresses and constituents are served.”