Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Governor Eric Holcomb journeyed out to St. Meinrad yesterday to make a huge announcement about broadband.
Yesterday, the Governor and Lt. Governor announced funding for the Next level Broadband Program.
Governor Holcomb says the $22.1 million in funding for 11 broadband expansion infrastructure projects across the state is part of the initial round of the project.
This funding will provide funding infrastructure to more than 4,800 homes and commercial locations in 12 counties, including Spencer and Perry Counties.
Governor Holcomb says this project is long overdue. According to the governor, there are thousands of people across the state who do not have internet access.
The $100 million Next Level Broadband program is the largest single investment of broadband.
In the first round of funding, service providers could apply for up to $5 million per project to expand service into unserved areas. But these providers will have to provide at least a 20% match.
This project will serve around 357 unserved households and 39 unserved businesses in rural portions of southern Perry County.
The requested grant amount is almost $1.5 million with a local match of more than $396,000, for a total project cost of almost $1.9 million.
In Spencer County, the project will serve around 2,798 unserved households and 416 unserved businesses.
The requested grant amount is $14.9 million with a local match of more than $8.2 million for a total project cost of more than $21.7 million.
According to Lt. Governor Crouch, rural Indiana plays a large role in state economic development.
Governor Holcomb asked Lt., Governor Suzanne Crouch, along with the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs to oversee the application program.
