Southern Indiana Business Report
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) has announced Next Level Connections Round 3 grants totaling $189 million will fund 154 broadband projects, expanding broadband access to 52,900 homes and businesses. Included are projects in Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.
Among the local projects:
- AT&T was awarded $1,297,444.79 to expand broadband access to 286 households and 23 businesses and/or anchor institutions in Lawrence County. The grant requires a match of $324,361.31, for a total project cost of $1,621,806.10.
- Jackson County REMC was awarded $2,397,683.03 to expand broadband access to 882 households and 46 businesses and/or anchor institutions in Lawrence, Brown, Jackson, Jennings and Washington counties. The grant requires a match of $2,567,870.28, for a total project cost of $4,965,553.31.
- Mainstream Fiber Network received a grant of $26,780 to expand broadband access to two businesses and/or anchor institutions in Dubois County. The grant requires a local match of $26,780.04, for a total project cost of $53,560.04.
- Orange County REMC received $1,337,344.97 to expand broadband access to 291 households and 130 businesses and/or anchor institutions in Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Lawrence, Martin, Orange and Pike counties. The grant requires a match of $5,212,792.61, for a total project cost of $6,550,137.58.
- While not receiving grant funding in this round for the projects, Orange County REMC is also listed by OCRA as being slated to work on two projects in Dubois County. The first project will expand broadband access to 51 households and nine businesses and/or anchor institutions. Total project cost is $229,128.38. The second project will expand broadband access to 156 households and 14 businesses and/or anchor institutions. Total project cost is $658,140.65.
- Perry-Spencer Rural Telephone Cooperative was awarded $714,220.72 to expand broadband access to 23 households and 19 businesses and/or anchor institutions in Dubois, Pike, and Warrick counties. The grant requires a match of $714,220.72, for a total project cost of $1,428,441.45.
- Smithville Communications was awarded $3,150,891.04 to expand broadband access to 421 households and 11 businesses and/or anchor institutions in Greene County. The grant requires a match of $787,721.82, for a total project cost of $3,938,612.86.
- Sprectrum Mid-America was awarded $349,304.70 to expand broadband access to 46 households and one business and/or anchor institutions in Washington County. The grant requires a match of $106,502, for a total project cost of $455,806.70.
In total, rounds one, two and three of the program have awarded $268 million across 83 counties to provide broadband access to more than 74,800 homes and commercial locations.
