This week, the Commerce Department announced its final round of broadband stimulus project grants. Here is a closer look at some of those projects that are now getting underway.

The Connect Alaska Initiative has been awarded a $4.5 million grant to expand broadband infrastructure across remote parts of the state. The group has already completed a broadband map of the state, highlighting areas where high-speed Internet access penetration is at its lowest points. "What this award signals is that through the regional planning effort and through the ramping up of the Connect Alaska initiative, communities such as yours can reach out to us and express the need to bring targeted focus to that area," says spokesperson Jessica Ditto. "So it's going to establish a framework for planning at the local level." Read more about the project here.

In Illinois, dozens of federal broadband recipients will meet next Tuesday to discuss how to invest more than $351 million in broadband stimulus grants. BroadbandBreakfast.com reports the meeting will be webcast live here at 11am EST/10am CST. From BroadbandBreakfast: “The event brings together award winners from the southern tip to the northwest corner of the State; from senior centers in Moline to a series of “smart communities” in Chicago; from rural wireless service providers to a fiber-to-the-home build in Urbana-Champaign.” Read more about the event here.

New York has been awarded $6.3 million to produce a statewide broadband map detailing the availability of high-speed Internet access across the state. The map (view here) allows residents to put in their address to see what kinds of broadband services are available in their area. In addition, the map will pinpoint underserved parts of the state. Read more about the project here.