Situated just southeast of Austin, Bastrop County is known for its rich history and natural beauty, anchored by the presence of the Lost Pines Forest. The Colorado River snakes through the county, and there is a vibrant arts and cultural scene, as well as a rapidly growing tech industry. In recent decades, Bastrop County has transformed from a rural farming area to one of Central Texas’s fastest-growing counties, with the population having significantly increased since 2010, rising from 74,000 residents to an estimated 120,000 in 2025. Yet, despite the growth of tech in the local economy, many residents still lack broadband and digital devices. 

“Bastrop County has experienced healthy growth in recent decades. Our location, in the triangle of Austin, Houston and San Antonio, makes Bastrop County a very practical location for business development and housing,” said Adena Lewis, director of tourism and economic development. Lewis said many of these areas are still underserved or unserved and the expansion of broadband is life-changing for Bastrop County residents. 

St. David’s Foundation’s vision is to build a vibrant and inclusive place where every individual can flourish and reach their full potential. To build that vibrant and inclusive community, broadband is necessary. Digital connectivity is an essential infrastructure: our community’s well-being, education, health care, and economic development all rely on the physical availability of broadband. And without broadband access, families and individuals face significant challenges and deepening disparities, including limited access to healthcare and educational and economic opportunities.  

In 2020, the Foundation recognized the need and partnered with Bastrop County and the nonprofit organization Bastrop County Cares through a $40,000 grant to identify areas without broadband. This was a multi-year effort, largely driven by the community’s dedication, and subsequent research led to initiatives to expand access, directly resulting in a $43.1 million state grant and $11 million in matching funds from Highline, a rural broadband provider. 

Earlier this month, on December 3, 2025, Bastrop County acknowledged the significance of the new state grant with a kickoff celebration.

In the coming year, more than 10,000 additional homes and businesses will have broadband access at affordable rates. This transformative funding will help bridge the digital divide in the county and provide residents with much-needed access to online resources to support thriving communities. 

Bastrop County Cares has been engaging community members to bring broadband to families and businesses in rural Texas since the pandemic. The effort was led by Debbie Bresette, former executive director of Bastrop County Cares, who worked closely with St. David’s Foundation on the initial grant.  Bresette, a Bastrop resident since the 1970s, has a long history of community advocacy. She co-founded the Family Crisis Center and led the United Way for Greater Austin for eight years before retiring in 2016. “I’ve always felt that my purpose on Earth is to serve others. I believe everyone deserves a chance at a better life,” said Bresette. 

Through a partnership with Connected Nation, Bastrop County Cares surveyed residents and businesses about broadband availability and identified areas with limited or no access. Volunteers led a five-year effort, producing a detailed report for local leaders, including then-County Judge Paul Pape. Judge Pape backed the project from the start, having known families in his McDade community without internet access.  Several organizations including Texas Rural Funders and Communities Unlimited also supported the project by brokering relations with national and statewide organizations, providing  local technical support and producing broadband briefs to make broadband relevant in statewide conversations. 

The small group of volunteers, affectionately known as “The Scrappy Committee,” met every Thursday at 2:00 p.m. for half a decade to work together to ensure that all residents of Bastrop County would benefit from their efforts. One of the biggest challenges was reconciling existing Federal Communications Commission maps that overestimated access with actual broadband coverage. To address this, the committee recruited volunteers to survey and map homes without internet access. 

One of the volunteers, Bernie South, a retired U.S. Navy veteran and ExxonMobil geoscientist, used his expertise in data science and geospatial analysis to identify areas most in need of broadband. His mapping, presented to internet service providers and community members, proved that thousands of county residents and businesses lacked reliable internet.

Motivated by a deep need to give back to a country that has given him so much, South dedicated his efforts to his largest volunteer project yet.  To successfully manage the scale of this undertaking, reliable data was essential.  “GIS was pivotal. We would have struggled without the credibility of this data,” he said. “I’m in awe of those dedicated to facing this challenge and moving our community forward.” 

“Broadband access often correlates with wealth, but this $43 million grant targets overlooked communities,” said Norma Mercado, current executive director of Bastrop County Cares. 

Mercado expressed deep gratitude for the grant received from St. David’s Foundation, which sparked a community-wide effort. Having worked with the community for several years, she has seen families forgo healthy living and check-ups due to limited transportation and internet access. With broadband, families can use telehealth, attend college and apply for jobs online. 

“The next step is to provide the community with digital literacy classes so they can learn how to use these tools effectively. I am truly excited about this development for the Bastrop community, and it will benefit everyone,” Mercado stated. 

The installation of high-speed fiber internet, a major milestone in community advancement, is expected to be completed by late 2026. Bresette is excited that the community has united to create generational change for its residents.