Accelerate
A specialized program to equip communities to utilize federal funding and expand access to high-speed internet
The Accelerate program is led by Heartland Forward and the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, providing 30 hours of no-cost expert counsel for community leaders to guide them in developing broadband plans to address their unique local barriers, ensuring state and federal funding is allocated to best fit their needs.
learn more from bentonOur Approach
A 16 week intensive program
The Accelerate process includes weekly, topical, two-hour meetings with the cohort of four to six communities convening together as a large group, with the following objectives:
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identify broadband goals
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gather community information
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analyze opportunities
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understand funding options
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target capital dollars for infrastructure
Where We Are
A growing community effort
We have launched cohorts in Arkansas, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee, reaching 32 communities to date.
Tools And Resources
Please provide your information to access the Accelerate Guidebook and support materials:
get the accelerate guidebook & supporting materials
Our Partners
Thank you to our Accelerate partners for making this work possible
- Blandin
- Benton
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- BroadbandOhio
- Ohio State University Office of Extension
- Arkansas Community Foundation
- Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation
- Diamond State Networks
- Forward Arkansas
- Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation
- Communities Unlimited
- WinRock International
- Arkansas Black Mayors Association
- University of Arkansas
- University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service
- Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development