Holcomb awards $51M for broadband expansion

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – Governor Eric Holcomb has announced $51 million for broadband infrastructure expansion projects throughout the state. Holcomb’s office says 50 different projects will receive the funding as a part of the second round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program.

The funding will provide broadband infrastructure to nearly 10,600 homes and commercial locations in 32 counties.

“Lieutenant Governor Crouch and I have been dedicated to improving internet access for years, and now COVID has only made the need for affordable, dependable broadband more apparent,” said Holcomb. “This latest round of grants will give more Hoosiers access to more affordable, quality internet regardless of where they live, work or go to school.”

The $100 million grant program is the largest single state investment in broadband. Holcomb’s office says a total of more than $79 million of the $100 million grant program has now been awarded, funding broadband infrastructure for nearly 22,000 locations in 41 counties.

In addition, Holcomb’s office says the 16 telecommunications providers and utility cooperatives contributed more than $53 million in matching funds, resulting in more than $104 million total investment for broadband.

The program allows broadband service providers and utility cooperatives to apply for up to $5 million to expand service to unserved areas as long as they provide a 20% match or more.

Holcomb’s office says information regarding a third round will be released in the future. 

The broadband service providers in the second round include:

• Central Indiana Communications, Henry County – In partnership with Henry County Rural Electric Membership Corp., the project will serve 70 unserved households and 10 businesses. The requested grant amount is $361,711, with a local match of more than $194,767, for a total project cost of $556,478.
• Comcast, Montgomery County – The project will serve 210 unserved homes in the town of Darlington. The requested grant amount is $673,155, with a local match of $174,171, for a total project cost of $847,326.
• Eastern Indiana WIFI, Grant County – The project will serve 12 households and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is $31,983, with a local match of $8,502 for a total project cost of $40,485.
• Eastern Indiana WIFI, Grant County – The project will serve 103 households and 28 businesses in Monroe and Jefferson Townships in the county. The requested grant amount is $251,756, with a local match of $66,922, for a total project cost of $318,678.
• Endeavor Communications,Hendricks County – The project will serve 138 unserved locations near the town of Danville. The requested grant amount is $851,085, with a local match of $438,438, for a total project cost of nearly $1.3 million.
• Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corp., Jennings County – The project will serve 163 locations in three townships: North Vernon, Seymour, and Scipio. The requested grant amount is $239,309, with a local match of $358,964, for a total project cost of $598,273.
• Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corp., Jennings County – The project will serve 118 locations in North Vernon Township. The requested grant amount is $192,273, with a local match of $288,407, for a total project cost of $480,680.
• Joink, Parke County – The project will serve approximately 73 unserved households and businesses. The requested grant amount is $351,002, with a local match of $87,750, for a total project cost of $438,752.
• Joink, Parke County – The project will serve approximately 26 households. The requested grant amount is $284,172, with a local match of $71,043, for a total project cost of $355,215.
• Joink, Parke County – The project will connect approximately 18 unserved households in Washington Township. The requested grant amount is $298,081, with a local match of $74,520, for a total project cost of $372,601.
• Joink, Vermillion County – The project will serve 22 households and one business in South East Cayuga. The requested grant amount is $252,979, with a local match of $63,245, for a total project cost of $316,224.
• Joink, Vigo County – The project will serve three households around West Concannon Avenue. The requested grant amount is $135,155, with a local match of $33,789, for a total project cost of $168,944.
• Joink, Vigo County – The project will serve 36 unserved households around French Lake. The requested grant amount is $338,642, with a local match of $84,660, for a total project cost of $423,302.
• Joink, Vigo County – The project will serve 18 unserved households and businesses in Blackhawk. The requested grant amount is $263,402, with a local match of $65,851, for a total project cost of $329,253.
• Johnson County Rural Electric Membership Corp., Morgan County – The project will connect 37 households and three businesses. The requested grant amount is $68,193, with a local match of $108,932, for a total project cost of $177,125.
• Lakeland Internet, Steuben County – The project will serve 40 households in Pine Canyon Lake. The requested grant amount is $30,830, with a local match of $34,874, for a total project cost of $65,704.
• Orange County Rural Electric Membership Corp., Lawrence, Orange, and Washington counties – The project will serve 84 households, 13 farms and two businesses. The requested grant amount is $809,441, with a local match of more than $1 million, for a total project cost of more than $1.8 million.
• Orange County Rural Electric Membership Corp., Lawrence and Orange counties – The project will serve 123 households, 18 farms and three businesses. The requested grant amount is $702,967, with a local match of more than $1.6 million, for a total project cost of more than $2.3 million.
• Orange County Rural Electric Membership Corp., Orange and Dubois counties – The project will connect seven households, six businesses and two anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is $680,993, with a local match of $417,382, for a total project cost of more than $1 million.
• New Lisbon Broadband and Communications, Henry County – The project will serve six unserved residences. The requested grant amount is $10,649, with a local match of $16,657, for a total project cost of $27,306.
• Mainstream Fiber Networks, Crawford County – The project will connect roughly 1,041 unserved households, 128 businesses and 25 anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is more than $3 million, with a local match of more than $2.7 million, for a total project cost of more than $5.7 million.
• Mainstream Fiber Networks, Posey County – The project will serve roughly 678 unserved households, 32 businesses and eight anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is more than $3.3 million, with a local match of more than $2.9 million, for a total project cost of more than $6.2 million.
• Mercury Wireless, Allen, Dekalb, and Whitley counties – The project will connect 130 households and five businesses. The requested grant amount is $110,040, with a local match of $348,460, for a total project cost of $458,500.
• Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative Inc., Dubois County – The project will serve 679 unserved locations. The requested grant amount is $5 million, with a local match of more than $2.8 million, for a total project cost of more than $7.8 million.
• South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corp., Brown, Monroe, and Owen counties – The project will serve 420 households and four businesses. The requested grant amount is more than $1.8 million, with a local match of more than $1.8 million, for a total project cost of more than $3.7 million.
• South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corp., Owen County – The project will connect 217 unserved locations in Freedom, an unincorporated community located southwest of the city of Spencer. The requested grant amount is $866,580, with a local match of $446,420, for a total project cost of more than $1.3 million.
• SEI Communications, Dearborn County – The project will serve five households, one business and three anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is $439,560, with a local match of $226,440, for a total project cost of $666,000.
• SEI Communications, Dearborn, Franklin, and Ripley counties – In partnership with Southeastern Indiana Rural Electric Membership Corp., the project will serve 447 households, 58 businesses, and 55 anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is more than $3.2 million, with a local match of more than $4.8 million, for a total project cost of more than $8 million.
• SEI Communications, Dearborn, Jefferson, Jennings, and Ripley counties – In partnership with Southeastern Indiana REMC, the project will provide service to 2,263 households, 199 business and 24 anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is $5 million, with a local match of more than $8.4 million, for a total project cost of more than $13.4 million.
• SEI Communications, Dearborn, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, and Switzerland counties – In partnership with Southeastern Indiana REMC, the project will serve 522 households, 27 businesses and eight anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is more than $4.3 million, with a local match of more than $6.5 million, for a total project cost of more than $10.8 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Clinton and Tippecanoe counties – The project will serve 150 unserved households, 12 farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is $814,985, with a local match of $814,985, for a total project cost of more than $1.6 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Clinton County – The project will serve 163 unserved households and 34 farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $1.1 million, with a local match of more than $1.1 million, for a total project cost of more than $2.3 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain County – The project will serve 59 unserved households, 13 farms and businesses and 13 anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is $547,146, with a local match of $547,146, for a total project cost of roughly $1 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain County – The project will serve 434 unserved households, 24 farms and businesses and three anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is more than $1.7 million, with a local match of more than $1.7 million, for a total project cost of more than $3.4 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain County – The project will serve 75 unserved households, 35 farms and businesses and three anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is more than $1.2 million, with a local match of $1.2 million, for a total project cost of more than $2.5 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain County – The project will serve 167 unserved households, 21 farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is more than $1 million, with a local match of $1 million, for a total project cost of more than $2 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain County – The project will serve 16 unserved households, five farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is $880,418, with a local match of $880,418, for a total project cost of more than $1.7 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Montgomery County – The project will serve 39 unserved households and 10 farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $673,956, with a local match of $673,956, for a total project cost of more than $1.3 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain and Montgomery counties – The project will serve 58 unserved households and 17 farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $722,034, with a local match of $722,034, for a total project cost of more than $1.4 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain and Montgomery counties – The project will serve 65 unserved households, 19 farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is $821,969, with a local match of $821,969, for a total project cost of more than $1.6 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain and Tippecanoe counties – The project will serve 203 unserved households, 57 farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is more than $1.3 million, with a local match of more than $1.3 million, for a total project cost of more than $2.6 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain and Tippecanoe counties – The project will serve 298 unserved households, 19 farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is more than $1.2 million, with a local match of more than $1.2 million, for a total project cost of more than $2.5 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Tippecanoe County – The project will serve 30 unserved households and three farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $546,303, with a local match of $546,303, for a total project cost of more than $1 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Tippecanoe, Montgomery and Clinton counties – The project will serve 39 unserved households, four farms and businesses and three anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is $981,803, with a local match of $981,803 for a total project cost of more than $1.9 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Fountain County – The project will serve 23 unserved households and five farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $566,822, with a local match of $566,822, for a total project cost of more than $1.1 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Montgomery County – The project will serve nine unserved households, seven farms and businesses and one anchor institution. The requested grant amount is $394,033, with a local match of $394,033, for a total project cost of $788,066.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Montgomery County – The project will serve 28 unserved households and five farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $617,400, with a local match of $617,400, for a total project cost of more than $1.2 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Montgomery County – The project will serve 12 unserved households and two farms and businesses. The requested grant amount is $400,694, with a local match of $400,694, for a total project cost of $801,388.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Tippecanoe and White counties – The project will serve nine unserved households, six farms and businesses and five anchor institutions. The requested grant amount is $737,613, with a local match of $737,613, for a total project cost of more than $1.4 million.
• Tipmont Rural Electric Membership Corp., Montgomery County – The project will serve 12 unserved households and two farms and businesses in Montgomery County. The requested grant amount is $439,186, with a local match of $439,186, for a total project cost of $878,372.