Surf Internet has committed $35 million to rural broadband as it seeks more state funding to expand high-speed internet to more underserved areas.
The Elkhart-based telecommunications company serving northern Indiana is the successor to Surf Air Wireless in La Porte City and continues to have an office in Maple City.
The company has been lobbying for more grants from Indiana’s Next Level Connections broadband grant program to help subsidize the construction of broadband lines in sparsely populated rural areas where customers are not concentrated and would otherwise be financially viable.
Surf Internet has expanded high-speed internet to more rural areas of Northwest Indiana, including LaPorte, Newton and Stark counties.
“Broadband is to the 21st century what rural electrification was to the 20th century,” said Mary Perren, executive assistant of the Stark County Economic Development Foundation. Stark County officials are seeking and receiving state-granted Recognizing this when receiving the Broadband Ready designation, SCEDF is pleased to be part of the ongoing effort to provide broadband to our residents. Access to reliable internet allows people to work remotely, is critical for e-learning, and is an essential business tool, All of this helps rural communities grow and prosper.”
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Surf Internet has been lobbying for partial funding for the Next Level Connections program, which would invest $350 million in broadband infrastructure across the state. To date, the state program has awarded $251 million to 81 Indiana counties to provide broadband access to 68,150 homes and businesses.
The company has now entered its fourth round of financing. The state expects to award the grants this summer, and then must build out the broadband over the next 24 months.
Surf Internet’s campaign for more state funding has received 110 letters of support from residents and leaders in 16 northern Indiana counties.
“Residents in rural Indiana are clamoring for real solutions to their connectivity issues,” said Steve Carender, Surf’s director of special funds. “Public-private partnerships have been and will continue to be key to delivering reliable high-speed access.”
Beer Geeks, one of the area’s original, most popular and most influential craft beer bars, has closed after more than a decade and is being reimagined as a new concept.
Whiting’s landmark 88-year-old castle-like White Castle is set to be demolished and replaced by the newer, larger and more modern White Castle restaurant.
A longtime downtown Crown Point restaurant poured its last drink.
The long-established Westforth Sports gun store is closing.
The Silver Line Building Products facility at 16801 Exchange Ave. will permanently close.
The Highland Beer Festival is coming to an end, in what has been called “the end of an era.”
David’s Bridal filed for bankruptcy and could close all of its stores if no buyer emerges to save it.
The 88-year-old Whiting White Castle will be remembered in museums in two different states.
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For years, the Millionaires’ Club met every morning at a corner booth at the 88-year-old White Castle at Indianapolis Avenue and 119th Street in downtown Whiting. The landmark restaurant debuted its last sliders on Tuesday.
One of Northwest Indiana’s most popular and long-lasting hobby shops is looking for a buyer after the death of its longtime owner.
J&L This N That consignment shop, a popular thrift store, has closed after a few years in downtown Whiting.
One Calumet-area establishment, Calumet Fishing Co. on Chicago’s far south side, has temporarily closed after failing a city health inspection.
Calumet Fisheries was hit by a fire just days after the plant reopened after city health inspectors shut it down.
Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant is different in Valparaiso.
Beer Geeks in Highland changed its name to B-Side Bar & Lounge and then closed within a few months.
Beleaguered retailer Bed Bath and Beyond will permanently close its Valparaiso store and shutter more locations across the country as it looks to restructure and downsize to save its struggling business.
People’s Bank of America closed its downtown Hammond branch.
Viking Artisan Ales will soon be pouring its last craft beer at the Merrillville taproom.
The old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, located at one of Northwest Indiana’s most famous highway interchanges, is closing after 15 years in business.
Walmart is closing its big box store in Homewood.
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation’s largest auto show, returns to McCormick Center on Saturday and runs through February 19.