Grants Part of Continued Broadband Push
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFive rural Indiana communities have received funding from the state to develop plans aimed at boosting broadband access. The Broadband Readiness Planning grants are $50,000 each and paid for through the federal Community Development Block Grant program. The communities receiving the support include: Dale; English, in partnership with Marengo and Milltown; Greene County, including Bloomfield, Jasonville, Switz City and Worthington; Marshall County, including Bremen, Culver and La Paz; and Starke County, including Hamlet, Knox and North Judson.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch calls the state’s rural areas "the next great economic development frontier" and adds "it is important we are not leaving rural Indiana and the Hoosiers that call it home behind. This grant will help bring high-speed, reliable and affordable Internet to the entire state."
The selected communities, Office of Community and Rural Affairs Director Jodi Golden says, will participate in a pilot program that involves the Purdue University Center for Regional Development. They received the support based on federal criteria and data including location, geography, density, unserved/underserved areas and previous efforts.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch discussed the importance of helping Hoosiers throughout the state access the high-speed service.