Tipmont REMC Awarded $16M for Rural Fiber Internet
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch awarded a $16M grant to Tipment REMC for fiber internet projects. (photo provided)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowLinden-based Tipmont REMC has been awarded a $16 million grant from the state’s Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program. The money, which was presented Friday by Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, is intended to provide broadband infrastructure in unserved areas of the state.
Tipmont is a rural electric cooperative that provides electric service to over 26,000 meters in eight Indiana counties in western Indiana, centering around Tippecanoe County.
The co-op also operates Wintek, a fiber internet service. The organization has built over 1,000 miles of state-of-the-art fiber lines and connected over 2,000 customers in less than two years.
This grant represents the second round of funding from the state’s broadband grant program.
“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, chief executive officer 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.”
Holcomb says 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.
The co-op says the money will allow it to finalize its upcoming fiber internet projects.
Tipton says by the end of 2020, fiber service will be available to over 7,200 homes.