On Friday, Virginia representatives and state officials announced plans to boost internet service access and availability.

The plans call for Virginia to provide $700 million from the pandemic relief funds to boost broadband access in the state.

While this will undoubtedly be crucial to closing the digital divide for some of the state’s poorest, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said that the investments will be critical to the state meeting its goal of closing the digital divide by 2024.

“We are in a good position, well poised to have broadband to everybody in the commonwealth of Virginia by 2024,” he said.

Many residents in the region welcomed the news, hoping it will boost economic development, create more jobs and allow more residents to work from home.

For more information, read the original story in NPR.