At the 2025 NTCA Fall Conference, NTCA CEO Shirley Bloomfield announced the winners of the 2025 Smart Rural Community Showcase Awards, presented annually to rural broadband providers who not only provide high-quality, reliable connectivity, but who also have led the way on collaborative and innovative projects that advance the communities they serve.
The Smart Rural Community program is a network of more than 290 communities across a wide swath of rural America supported by NTCA member providers who are committed to driving growth through robust broadband service. The Showcase Awards are presented to providers in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in promoting rural broadband networks and innovative applications that create opportunities for the educators, health care providers, farmers, small business owners, public safety professionals and others who help their communities thrive.
Twin Lakes from Gainesboro, Tennessee, was one of the eight 2025 winners. In 2020, Twin Lakes recognized the financial hardships local organizations were facing during the pandemic and launched the Twin Lakes Difference Grant Program to help drive economic development, enhance education, improve public safety and strengthen communities. Over the past six years, 104 community organizations have been awarded over $480,000 in grants. One quarter of those grants have gone towards improving public safety in Twin Lakes’ service territory. Another award enabled the purchase of Chromebooks to help senior citizens serve as mentors and tutors for children with special needs.
Twin Lakes is proving that being a Smart Rural Community means showing up for your neighbors in meaningful ways. The coop’s commitment to connection, both digital and human, is helping rural Tennessee grow stronger, together.
Click here for the full list of 2025 recipients.