TRAVERSE CITY -- Three area economic development organizations are combining efforts to seek more federal funding to expand broadband Internet service in the region.
The Traverse Bay Area Economic Development Corp. is joining the Northern Lakes Economic Alliance and the Manistee County Alliance for Economic Success on a proposal for the second round of funding for high-speed Internet expansion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Officials are working with a group of selected local providers on a coordinated proposal for federal stimulus funding.
Recent research by the agencies showed that fewer than 60 percent of households in the five-county region have access to high-speed Internet service, well below the state average of 78 percent. Officials said it puts the region at a competitive disadvantage in attracting economic growth to northern Michigan.
"Creating a common alignment with other regional economic development organizations helps to strengthen support for broadband service providers investing to bring high-speed Internet service into areas that cannot obtain it today," said Tino Breithaupt, head of the Traverse Bay EDC.
The agencies are seeking letters of support from residents, business owners, civic groups and others by the March 29 application deadline.
More information is available on the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce's Regional Broadband Initiative web site at www.tcchamber.org/regional-broadband.
Raw Video: Israeli Embassy Car Attacked
Coroner: Don't Know Houston's Cause of Death Yet
Valentine Greetings Sent Worldwide From Loveland
Greek Austerity Measures Spark Riots
Raw Video: Obama Budget Goes to Capitol Hill
Arab League Wants U.N. Help in Syria
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
