The City Commissioners will meet this coming Tuesday, Oct. 19th, to discuss how to spend $32 million in federal COVID relief funds.

The spending plan is mapped out for the city to spend $32 million before 2024, with $9 million of it going towards community broadband.

The expansion will allow more people to access faster internet. Founder of Connected Gainesville, Ryan Eastman, says the broadband expansion is a necessity.

"The internet is not just our future, but it's how we are living our lives now, it is how our children are learning, it's how many people are working, it's how we connect with friends and family," said Eastman.

Eastman said this money will allow the city to help those who need it most.

City Commissioner, Harvey Ward, thinks the broadband expansion is a huge step for the community. Commissioner Ward said Gainesville is miles ahead of most communities with broadband, but the roll out will be key.

The City currently does not have a plan for the broadband spending, so Commissioner Ward said he wants to use the ARP money to be able to create a plan.

"I'm much more comfortable saying we're going to use this percentage of the money, this many dollars from ARP, to put the plan together and reserve some other amount for working the beginning of that plan," said Commissioner Ward.

Both Eastman and Commissioner Ward want to see this roll out become a reality, which would help the entire community.