Thomas M. Bernabei | Canton Ohio website
Thomas M. Bernabei | Canton Ohio website
Fairlawn and Canton, Ohio – Today the City of Canton announced that businesses and residents in its Innovation and Downtown Redevelopment Districts will be eligible to be connected to FairlawnGig for better, faster, and more affordable broadband access.
Established in 2017, the districts will engage FairlawnGig for better management of the initiative to deliver broadband upgrades to district residents and businesses. Today, the districts represent 43 buildings and 204 residents, both commercial and residential.
“My administration has always been looking for ways to drive economic development opportunities,” explains Canton Mayor Thomas Bernabei. “If we’re able to provide gigabit-speed, affordable internet service to Canton businesses and residents, it will promote business growth as well as attract residents and businesses to Canton.”
The 12 block, downtown Canton Innovation and Downtown Redevelopment Districts are already connected to Ohio’s OARnet for high-speed internet and will see additional investments from $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to bolster connectivity. The City of Canton currently has Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in place and those funds are available to connect fiber assets to district buildings.
“The City of Canton believes in the economic opportunities that better broadband will deliver, bringing FairlawnGig and its outstanding internet service downtown will serve as an incentive for relocation to Canton,” explains Canton’s director of economic development Chris Hardesty. “FairlawnGig has demonstrable expertise as in delivering municipal internet services. We’re thrilled to be able to offer Canton’s district tenants the opportunity to receive a world class customer experience with an organization that boasts great prices, high speeds, and industry-leading customer satisfaction scores.”
Canton’s announced partnership with FairlawnGig capitalizes on existing fiber assets in Canton so that FairlawnGig will provide vastly faster and better internet service for district tenants.
“Once each building is connected to fiber, we’ll be able to easily connect each tenant with better, more affordable internet service,” explains Fairlawn’s Director of Public Service Ernie Staten. “Beyond the fastest service available, anywhere, we’re excited to bring our world-class customer service to Canton.”
If you own or are a tenant in the Innovation and Downtown Redevelopment Districts, contact Chris Hardesty with your request to connect your building. Chris Hardesty can be reached at (330) 438-4302 and chris.hardesty@cantonohio.gov.
About Canton Innovation District
First established in 2017, the Canton Innovation District, a 12-block neighborhood in downtown Canton, was designed to attract tech-oriented businesses and to foster economic growth for both the City of Canton and Stark County. The Innovation District was created to offer high speed, low cost broadband/fiber connectivity to businesses, helping the businesses to thrive. This would, in turn, improve the economic well-being and quality of life for the entire community. The successful provision and management of the network created in the Innovation District will serve as a stepping stone for broadband access throughout the City of Canton.”
About FairlawnGig®
FairlawnGig is a municipal broadband utility established by the City of Fairlawn that delivers a better Internet experience for residents and businesses in Fairlawn and the Akron/Bath/Fairlawn JEDD. FairlawnGig’s high-speed fiber network offers an unprecedented level of Internet service to the Fairlawn area with a gigabit fiber connection to every home and business. The City of Fairlawn established FairlawnGig as a forward-thinking, economic development strategy founded on the belief that business growth, innovation, and community transformation will follow with every connection.
For More Information:
Chris Hardesty
City of Canton Mayor's Office
Department of Economic Development
(330) 438-4302
OR
Doug Adams on behalf of FairlawnGig
The Think Agency
330.933.3374
Original source can be found here.
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