Staff Reports
INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb recently announced over $51 million for 50 broadband infrastructure expansion projects across the state as part of the second round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program.
Jennings County, with Jackson County Rural Electric Membership Corporation, has two projects in the works through the program.
One of the projects will serve 163 locations in three Jennings County 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.
The second project will serve 118 locations in North Vernon Township in Jennings County. The requested grant amount is $192,273, with a local match of $288,407, for a total project cost of $480,680.
The $100 million Next Level Broadband Grant Program is the largest single state investment in broadband. In total, rounds one and two of the program have awarded more than $79 million for broadband infrastructure for more than 21,900 homes and commercial locations in 41 counties.
In addition to the $51 million awarded today, 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 if they provide at least a 20% match. Unserved areas are those without at least one telecommunication provider offering at least 10 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload. Proposed projects must provide a minimum level of service at actual speeds of 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload.
Learn more about Next Level Connections at www.in.gov/gov/ nextlevelconnections.htm.
