Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced last week Tipmont REMC will receive more than $16 million in grants from the second phase of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program. The program is designed to foster broadband infrastructure investment in unserved areas of the state.
“The State of Indiana has shown tremendous leadership and a Hoosier can-do spirit to address the broadband gap in rural Indiana,” said Ron Holcomb, CEO of Tipmont REMC. “Tipmont is committed to bringing fiber internet to our entire electric service area these funds will help bring service where it is desperately needed.”
The grants will help build high-speed, state-of-the-art fiber internet service to over 2,200 homes, businesses and anchor institutions in five counties within Tipmont’s electric service area: Clinton, Fountain, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, and White.
“We hear every day from people whose need for better internet is dire and immediate,” said Rob Ford, Tipmont’s Communication Director. “This wonderful grant news will allow us to plan our upcoming fiber internet builds. We look forward to sharing that information later this fall.”
The grant is Tipmont’s second from the Next Level Connections program. Tipmont received a grant in the first phase of awards for eastern Tippecanoe county and was the first recipient to complete a build using Next Level Connections funding.
Tipmont’s fiber internet service, known as Wintek powered by Tipmont, has built over 1,000 miles of state-of-the-art fiber lines and connected over 1,500 customers in less than two years. By the end of 2020, service will be available to over 7,200 homes. More information, including service availability, pricing, and construction updates, are available at join.wintek.com.
