Next Level Connections High Speed Fiber Grant Opportunity

Next Level Connections Grant

• State matching grant opportunity through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to expand high-speed internet access throughout Indiana (https://www.in.gov/ocra/nlc.htm)

• $100 million available for eligible projects

• Grant amount may be up to $5,000,000 maximum per application

• Grant application process is competitive - with scoring based upon funding match size, community need, internet speed offered, etc.

NLC Grant: Eligible Areas

• Eligible areas for this grant are limited to the Unserved Areas of Floyd County

• Unserved Area: is defined as a census block that does not have least one broadband provider offering actual speeds of at least 10 mbps download and 1 mbps upload

• The majority of Unserved areas are within Greenville Township, Franklin Township, and parts of Lafayette Township

NLC Grant: Application Process

• To apply for this grant, Floyd County must partner with a service provider who will serve as the main applicant

• Floyd County has chosen to partner with Mainstream Fiber Networks out of Nashville, Indiana

• Mainstream has worked with several rural communities to bring fiber internet to their area, including Harrison County

NLC Grant: Funding Breakdown

• Total estimated cost of project: $4.2 Million

• Grant application will be for 49% of the total cost

• The remaining 51% (match) will be split between Mainstream Fiber Networks and Floyd County• Mainstream Fiber Networks would take 2/3 of cost, Floyd County would take

1/3

NLC Grant: Next Steps

• Working with Mainstream to complete grant application (Due May 3rd)

• We need support from the community (letters, documentation, testimonials, anything you can provide us)

• Please provide in detail, your experience without internet and why this grant would benefit you and the community

• Support documentation can be sent to the Floyd County Commissioners Office:

Floyd County Commissioners

2524 Corydon Pike Suite 204

New Albany, IN 47150commissioner@floydcounty.in.gov

Provider Partner Info:

Mainstream Fiber Networks

https://msfiber.net/

Main Office

4528 Old State Rd 46

Nashville, IN, 47448

(812) 720 – 9423

9 AM – 5 PM

Harrison County Office

2370 Landmark Way NE, Unit 102

PO Box 96, Corydon, IN, 47112

(844) 752 – 6736

9 AM – 5 PM