(La Porte County, IN) - La Porte County is having more success obtaining money for extending adequate broadband. A $6.5 million state grant has been awarded to La Porte County for laying high-speed fiber to areas without adequate speeds.

 

La Porte County Commissioner Sheila Matias said Surf Broadband Solutions is also investing four million of its own funds in addition to the grant for extending high-speed service.

 

Matias, who formed the La Porte County Broadband Task Force to fill service gaps after becoming a commissioner over three years ago, said the goal is access to broadband in every home and business in La Porte County.

 

“This is a huge win for us,” Matias said.

La Porte County has also secured other funding for a broadband extension, and some of those projects are completed.

 

“You see fiber going in all over the county. It’s no longer just a nice thing to have. It’s an absolute necessity,” Matias said.

State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores said over $11 million was awarded for broadband extension in his district, including Michigan City, La Porte, New Carlisle, and Knox.

 

The money is from the governor’s Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program.

 

Bohacek said the program created with help from the state legislature is the most significant single-state investment in broadband. $268 million for broadband infrastructure in more than 74,800 homes and commercial locations in the state have been awarded from the program since 2018.

 

The program has leveraged another $312 million in private and local investment, Bohacek said.