I'm happy to see that Norlight got a piece of the pie. They did our
fiber between our seven buildings as well as to the ICN/Internet and
have been excellent to work with so far.
Tim
>>> Jim Flanagan <jhflana...@gmail.com> 9/14/2010 3:55 PM >>>
Looks like we just got more Broadband $$$
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, September 13, 2010
Governor Quinn Announces Illinois to Receive Nearly $100 million in
New High-Tech Investment
Four More Projects will Create Hundreds of Jobs Across State
CHICAGO – September 13, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that
four more Illinois broadband projects have been awarded a total of $73
million in federal funding to build and improve high-tech
infrastructure throughout the state. Over $16 million in funding from
the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program helped secure the federal
awards, which bring Illinois’ American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
(ARRA) broadband funding total to more than $244 million.
“Broadband access is critical to help grow the Illinois economy.
That’s why we’ve aggressively competed for federal stimulus money to
improve our state’s high-tech infrastructure,” Governor Quinn said.
“As of today, Illinois has received over $240 million in federal
broadband funding, which will put hundreds of highly skilled
Illinoisans to work.”
Together, the four projects will create approximately 450 direct jobs
and put more than $96 million public and private dollars into the
Illinois economy.
“Broadband is an important economic tool, and too many Illinoisans
lack adequate and affordable access. Our homes and businesses need
affordable access to high speed internet connections, in the same way
our homes and businesses need services like water, gas and
electricity,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Today’s funding
will increase access to broadband, create jobs in Illinois and help
close the digital divide.”
Convergence Technologies, Inc. received a $9.1 million federal award
matched with $700,000 in state capital funds to offer last-mile
wireless broadband and digital phone service (VoIP) in Cook, Kankakee
and Will Counties in Illinois, and Lake, Newton and Porter Counties in
Indiana. The project will benefit tens of thousands of residents,
businesses and community institutions, and create 50 jobs.
Norlight, Inc. received an $11.1 million federal award matched with
$450,000 in state capital funds leveraged with $350,000 in private
investment to expand a wireless network in 13 unserved and underserved
areas in central Illinois. This project will benefit more than 9,700
businesses and 804 community institutions, and will create more than
36 jobs.
Northern Illinois University, on behalf of the
Illinois Broadband Opportunity Partnership – Northwest Region,
received $46.1 million in federal dollars matched with $14 million in
state capital funds and $8.5 million in private funding to build an
870-mile fiber-optic network across nine-counties. This project will
interconnect with the DeKalb County broadband project, which received
stimulus funding in February.
MyWay Village, will use its $4.7 million federal award matched with
$1.2 million in state capital funds leveraged with $890,000 in private
investment to engage thousands of senior citizens and people with
disabilities in 23 public housing communities to learn the basics of
e-mail, Web access and other practical computer skills. MyWay Village
has partnered with local Workforce Investment Act organizations to
help seniors who develop their digital literacy skills to find part
time work.
All of the federal funding was awarded through a highly competitive
process led by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. Seventeen
Illinois projects have so far secured broadband funding from the USDA
and the US Department of Commerce. All together, they represent more
than 3,000 jobs and $350 million of investment in Illinois.
A longtime advocate of broadband-based opportunities in Illinois,
Governor Quinn made sure funding for technology projects was included
in the Illinois Jobs Now! public works plan.
For more information, visit Broadband.Illinois.gov.
###
Ryan Croke
Deputy Chief of Staff
Office of Governor Pat Quinn
401 S. Second Street
Springfield, IL 62703
217.280.1924 mobile
217.557.9469 office
--
Jim Flanagan
4439 N. California
Chicago, Il 60625
773 463-5494 Chicago
773 396-4638 cell
231 448-2109 Beaver Island
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