Broadband among topics at EDC meeting
May 10, 2022 at 9:14 p.m.
“We went from ‘please, somebody put it in’ to now we’ve got five groups,”Franklin County Economic Development Commission President John Palmer said about burgeoning broadband development in the county at the May 9 meeting. “I’m happy …perseverance pays off.”
Spectrum, with a pair of grants, is in the process of laying out a route starting around College Corner and is currently proceeding in Metamora/Laurel. Heavenwire is working more and more in the Laurel area and Southeastern Indiana REMC continues to work in the southern part of the county. Great Plains Communications is maneuvering around St. Peters Road and looking to head over to Hamburg. Frontier won a grant from Indiana’ Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program and is eying Bath Township. Cost estimates are $25,000 per mile.
“None of them are getting any money from the county,” Palmer
emphasized. “It’s all either on their own dime or grant money from somebody else.”
Not that they didn’t try. The president confirmed each outfit contacted him to request money. “The commissioners and I talked about it and the answer was ‘We can’t give you any money that we don’t have.’”
Palmer mentioned there’s been some confusion with Spectrum’ work near McGuire Ridge and Yellow Bank Road, which is turning out to be tricky with land slippage and going under the road.
One individual felt the company was starting with “easy”work first. Through Facebook, Palmer and county attorney Grant Reeves conveyed this was not the case.
“The install is NOT to the easiest connections first,”Reeves posted. “The goal of the program is to get service to those homes that are ‘underserved homes.’(Spectrum’) required by their federal grant to get these connections made. Success for all of us to get high speed internet requires all of us to cooperate.”
Palmer gave an example of how difficult it would be to run a line thousands of feet from a main road to an individual’s home.
The state, in pushing broadband readiness, wants the county to declare itself a broadband-ready community among other fulfillments. This, though the five ISPs are already active within the county. Consultant Nick Lawrence with the Wheatley Group said Franklin would join about 40 other counties in the state with the designation.
Palmer also clued in that federal money is also available for post-installation. He didn’t have all the details, but the service providers will be able to offer relatively low-cost internet to people below a certain income range.
“A lot of people out there can’t afford $100 a month, even if they wanted to,”he said.
Regarding receiving a health grant, Palmer said the state wants Franklin County to collaborate with health groups in Connersville and Wayne County to come up with a project by Jan. 1, 2023, involving the three entities.
Palmer, along with member Greg Orschell, agreed this could be difficult as each of these areas are unique as far as needs. The amount of revenue each can access is different as well.
For instance, Wayne County received $13 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project –more than Franklin County and Connersville will be able to utilize.
Today, May 11, was the deadline for applying for the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, but this wasn’t pursued.
“I think we know there’s opportunity there,”said Lawrence, “I think we need our ducks in a row a little bit more of what it is we want to go after.”
The consultant added it’ very capital intensive and return on investment should ideally be more reasonable.
On the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) front, Palmer said the Southeast Indiana group (6 counties) and its board of directors “are inching forward to actually do projects but nothing’s been submitted, approved or denied.”
Administratively, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is still working out the best way to coordinate with all the state’s regions.
Money needs to be obligated by end of year 2024 –Lawrence thought that year is too late to be awarding some projects.
The commission is still seeking a third member appointed by Brookville Town Council. Lawrence queried whether council was actively pursuing someone.
Palmer said it was possible they had someone in mind, he’s just not heard yet. “The person I suggested should have a vested interest in being here and talking to us about what we’re trying to do.”
Lawrence also brought up the creation of a community coordinator position that originated from the state.
Palmer would like to, after speaking with BTC president Curtis Ward, have the approximately $40,000 position started and funded before the end of the year. The money was ready at the start of this year, but state’s training was delayed. The state is funding 50% of the position with the town and county looking to come up with the rest.
A couple other items were Palmer filling out a budget form for 2023 to be sent to the auditor’s office and Lawrence attending the next rural education model meeting this Friday.
Note: The EDC is still looking to fill a vacancy on its 3-person board. The opening is for a Town of Brookville appointment as FC Council and Commissioners are currently represented.
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“We went from ‘please, somebody put it in’ to now we’ve got five groups,”Franklin County Economic Development Commission President John Palmer said about burgeoning broadband development in the county at the May 9 meeting. “I’m happy …perseverance pays off.”
Spectrum, with a pair of grants, is in the process of laying out a route starting around College Corner and is currently proceeding in Metamora/Laurel. Heavenwire is working more and more in the Laurel area and Southeastern Indiana REMC continues to work in the southern part of the county. Great Plains Communications is maneuvering around St. Peters Road and looking to head over to Hamburg. Frontier won a grant from Indiana’ Next Level Connections Broadband Grant program and is eying Bath Township. Cost estimates are $25,000 per mile.
“None of them are getting any money from the county,” Palmer
emphasized. “It’s all either on their own dime or grant money from somebody else.”
Not that they didn’t try. The president confirmed each outfit contacted him to request money. “The commissioners and I talked about it and the answer was ‘We can’t give you any money that we don’t have.’”
Palmer mentioned there’s been some confusion with Spectrum’ work near McGuire Ridge and Yellow Bank Road, which is turning out to be tricky with land slippage and going under the road.
One individual felt the company was starting with “easy”work first. Through Facebook, Palmer and county attorney Grant Reeves conveyed this was not the case.
“The install is NOT to the easiest connections first,”Reeves posted. “The goal of the program is to get service to those homes that are ‘underserved homes.’(Spectrum’) required by their federal grant to get these connections made. Success for all of us to get high speed internet requires all of us to cooperate.”
Palmer gave an example of how difficult it would be to run a line thousands of feet from a main road to an individual’s home.
The state, in pushing broadband readiness, wants the county to declare itself a broadband-ready community among other fulfillments. This, though the five ISPs are already active within the county. Consultant Nick Lawrence with the Wheatley Group said Franklin would join about 40 other counties in the state with the designation.
Palmer also clued in that federal money is also available for post-installation. He didn’t have all the details, but the service providers will be able to offer relatively low-cost internet to people below a certain income range.
“A lot of people out there can’t afford $100 a month, even if they wanted to,”he said.
Regarding receiving a health grant, Palmer said the state wants Franklin County to collaborate with health groups in Connersville and Wayne County to come up with a project by Jan. 1, 2023, involving the three entities.
Palmer, along with member Greg Orschell, agreed this could be difficult as each of these areas are unique as far as needs. The amount of revenue each can access is different as well.
For instance, Wayne County received $13 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the project –more than Franklin County and Connersville will be able to utilize.
Today, May 11, was the deadline for applying for the USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, but this wasn’t pursued.
“I think we know there’s opportunity there,”said Lawrence, “I think we need our ducks in a row a little bit more of what it is we want to go after.”
The consultant added it’ very capital intensive and return on investment should ideally be more reasonable.
On the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) front, Palmer said the Southeast Indiana group (6 counties) and its board of directors “are inching forward to actually do projects but nothing’s been submitted, approved or denied.”
Administratively, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) is still working out the best way to coordinate with all the state’s regions.
Money needs to be obligated by end of year 2024 –Lawrence thought that year is too late to be awarding some projects.
The commission is still seeking a third member appointed by Brookville Town Council. Lawrence queried whether council was actively pursuing someone.
Palmer said it was possible they had someone in mind, he’s just not heard yet. “The person I suggested should have a vested interest in being here and talking to us about what we’re trying to do.”
Lawrence also brought up the creation of a community coordinator position that originated from the state.
Palmer would like to, after speaking with BTC president Curtis Ward, have the approximately $40,000 position started and funded before the end of the year. The money was ready at the start of this year, but state’s training was delayed. The state is funding 50% of the position with the town and county looking to come up with the rest.
A couple other items were Palmer filling out a budget form for 2023 to be sent to the auditor’s office and Lawrence attending the next rural education model meeting this Friday.
Note: The EDC is still looking to fill a vacancy on its 3-person board. The opening is for a Town of Brookville appointment as FC Council and Commissioners are currently represented.