INNOVATE INDIANA

Exhibit B-4
Project Ownership, Partners & Experience
(Project Type & Readiness)
Project #10 - Metronet Extension
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT | SECTION 19
38
Project Information - This application combines the Marshall County and Elkhart County Metronet
a.) Mary Jan Hedman, CEO, St. Joe Valley Metronet and Barkley Garrett, Director of
Project Contacts
Economic Development at the City of Elkhart b.)Jerry Chavez, Executive Director of the
Marshall County EDC
Project Description
Project Location
Project Category
Industry Alignment
Project Partners
Project Experience
This project involves the construction of dark fiber with greatly enhanced bandwidth
capabilities in both Elkhart and Marshall County. a.) The expansion of the Metronet fiber
into Elkhart involves combining existing fiber networks with new conduit and fiber
connecting with St. Joseph County. The project would expand the availability of powerful
and cost-effective broadband services for many regional businesses and support
economic growth as a powerful community asset. b.) This project would bring Metronet
broadband services to the remaining incorporated areas of Marshall County as well as
one of the county's largest employers and only post secondary school. In addition to the
Metronet expansion, this project would support the establishment of
entrepreneurship/incubator centers in Plymouth and Culver.
a.) The Metronet expansion into Elkhart County includes the build of conduit and fiber
bringing increased broadband capabilities in both the City of Elkhart and City of Goshen.
b.)The Metronet expansion would involve bringing fiber optic broadband capabilities
allowing unlimited bandwidth to the towns of Culver, Bourbon, Argos, and Bremen as well
as Ancilla College and Culver Academies in unincorporated Marshall County. Plymouth,
LaPaz and Lakeville were connected to the Metronet in 2014 thru a public/private
partnership where two counties, a city, and two private businesses paid for the
construction of 17 miles of infrastructure. To date, Metronet has allowed Hoosier Racing
Tire, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and several other organizations to operate with
increased data transfer efficiencies offering better services to their clients.
Infrastructure
a.) Since high-speed connectivity is essential to all businesses, healthcare organizations,
governmental agencies, financial institutions, K12 and high education institutions, the
project will allow organizations in any industry to more efficiently achieve their missions
through reduced costs and increased technology capabilities b.) The project will
specifically benefit high tech businesses that rely on efficient and dependable data
transmissions. Furthermore, Metronet will provide all private and public organizations
with unlimited broadband services in a rural county setting.
a.) City of Elkhart, City of Goshen, Elkhart County Economic Development Corporation,
Elkhart County Regional Higher Education Institutions, Private businesses and Non-profit
entities b.) City of Plymouth, Plymouth Redevelopment, Town of Culver, Culver
Redevelopment Commission, Marshall County, Ancilla College, Culver Academies, Town
of Bourbon, Bourbon Redevelopment, Town of Bremen, Bremen Redevelopment,
Marshall County Economic Development Corporation, Metronet, Indiana Small Business
Development Center, Private sector
Metronet currently provides fiber connectivity to 190 subscribers in both St. Joseph and
Marshall Counties. b.) City of Plymouth and Marshall County recently completed a
similar project to bring Metronet's dark fiber to Plymouth from South Bend. This project
was originally funded by Marshall and St. Joseph Counties, City of Plymouth, St. Joseph
Regional Medical Center, and Hoosier Racing Tire for the benefit of businesses of
Marshall County.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE REGION ENGAGED CURRENT TRENDS
STATE OF THE REGION
& QUALITY OF PLACE
VISION & STRATEGY PROJECTS
STAKEHOLDERS, EXECUTION
& STRUCTURAL CHANGES
Project Timeline
Project Start Date 9/1/2015
Project End Date 7/30/2017
Start within 12 months? Yes
Project Combined MetroNet Application Page 1 of 3
REGIONALCITIESOFNORTHERNINDIANA.ORG |
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BENCHMARKING
& MEASUREMENT
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT