LANSING ? The Michigan Broadband Development Authority has closed on a $826,000 loan to Michigan Lightwave to bring fiber-based broadband Internet connections to upwards of 500 businesses in Macomb County, the first Authority loan in Macomb.
When completed, the 165-mile network will allow customers to connect various office locations throughout the county. This will be the third network built by Michigan Lightwave. Its first was built in Kalamazoo County in conjunction with the Kalamazoo Regional Education Service Area (RESA), and the Kalamazoo and Portage Public School Districts. Its second was built in Gratiot and Isabella Counties.
“There are over 500 medium-sized and large businesses in the county that fit our profile,” said Thomas Davis, one of the co-owners of Michigan Lightwave. “While there are existing providers that own fiber in the market, none focus specifically on selling point-to-point fiber connections to businesses and other entities.?
David Hollister, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, said the importance of high-speed Internet access can not be underestimated to the continued economic development of Michigan.
“This loan helps diversify the broadband choices and options businesses will have, improving their competitiveness and aiding economic growth and more jobs for the region,” he said.
The MBDA was created to help the state attract more private sector investment in high-speed Internet infrastructure, and to increase demand for and utilization of broadband services. The MBDA offers loans to providers willing to make broadband investments and by offering organizations or “broadband users” financing for the acquisition of hardware and software applications that will improve or increase their use of broadband service.
