The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs announced Monday that $189 million had been awarded for 154 broadband projects across the state, expanding access to 52,900 homes and businesses.

A Jackson County REMC project was among those receiving funding through the Next Level Connections Round 3 announcement, according to a news release from the state agency also known as OCRA.

The Brownstown-based company’s project will expand broadband access to 882 households and 46 businesses and/or anchor institutions in Jackson, Brown, Jennings, Lawrence and Washington counties.

Jackson County REMC received a proposed grant amount of $2,397,683.03 with a local match of $2,567,870.28 for a total project cost of $4,965,553.31.

A total of $268 million has been awarded to 83 counties around the state through the Next Level Connections three rounds of funding. Those funds have been used to provide broadband access to more than 74,800 homes and commercial locations across the state.