MILLTOWN, IND. – Mainstream Fiber Networks today was joined by officials from the State of Indiana and Crawford County to break ground on a new project to bring fiber optic internet to the community. Mainstream will construct over 80 miles of mainline fiber optic cable in Crawford County.
“We look forward to bringing fast, affordable and reliable, fiber optic internet service to Crawford County,” said Bryan Gabriel, CEO of Mainstream Fiber Networks. “We thank Governor Holcomb and Lt. Governor Crouch for their serious commitment to connecting all Hoosier communities to high quality internet and a higher quality of life.”
Crawford County Economic Development Partnership and Mainstream partnered in 2020 on the county’s broadband readiness plan which underscored the need for better connectivity in the community. Ultimately, Mainstream and Crawford County secured a Next Level Connections grant of $3 million to help fund the project.
“Crawford County has long been in need for direct high speed fiber to the home,” said Michael Thissen, executive director of the Crawford County Economic Development Partnership. “We need to keep up with the speed of connecting and growing our educational and business opportunities. The rate of speed to the home will allow our kids to do their homework without having to go elsewhere. Fiber infrastructure to the end user is how we need to operate today and into the future.”
Mainline construction from Milltown through Marengo, Leavenworth, English and Eckerty is underway. Once completed, the fiber will connect more than 1,000 unserved households and over 150 businesses, schools, municipal buildings and other anchor institutions in Crawford County to reliable, high speed internet.
“This ground-breaking ceremony is a celebration of the investment taking place in Crawford County,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who oversees the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program. “The collaborative effort between community leaders, stakeholders and Mainstream will benefit more than 1,200 local homeowners and businesses who will soon see work underway to bring them fiber internet service to these unserved and underserved areas in and around English, Marengo and Milltown.” Mainstream plans to complete the first phase of construction by December 2022.