Northwest Central Indiana Community Partnerships Inc

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE NORTHWEST CENTRAL INDIANA COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, INC. AND WABASH HEARTLAND INNOVATION NETWORK WITH PROVIDING IMPROVED BROADBAND ACCESS TO THE SEVEN-COUNTY NORTHWEST CENTRAL INDIANA REGION. THE PROJECT FUNDS THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT TO BE PART OF A SYSTEM OF INFLATABLE AEROSTATS, SUCH AS BLIMPS AND HOT-AIR BALLOONS, PROVIDING COST-EFFECTIVE AND RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE TO THE REGION. AS PART OF THE REGION’S RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PROVIDING BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY TO IMPROVE MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES DELIVERY WITHIN THE REGION WILL HELP MAKE THE REGION MORE RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF FUTURE ECONOMIC SHOCKS. IN ADDITION, THE REGION’S CRITICAL AGRICULTURAL CLUSTER INCREASINGLY RELIES ON BROADBAND TO UTILIZE THE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRED FOR 21ST CENTURY FARM OPERATIONS. ONCE COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL HELP THE REGION OVERCOME THE LACK OF ADEQUATE, RELIABLE BROADBAND SERVICE TO HELP DIVERSIFY AND STRENGTHEN THE REGIONAL ECONOMY.