The State of Michigan prioritized Ottawa County awarding it nearly $14 million through a grant from Realizing Opportunities with Broadband Infrastructure Networks also known as ROBIN. It’s a second round of funding initiating construction of 400 miles of new fiber installation delivering internet access to nearly 10,000 residents and businesses. The new service provides access to roughly 3,300 unserved and 1,200 underserved addresses.
In March, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved the $27 million high-speed broadband project. A combination of state and federal grants, including the $14 million from ROBIN, $7.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act and a commitment of $3.5 million in private capital from 123NET, the Southfield-based high-speed internet service provider, will finance the system. Tilson Technology will design, build, and maintain the network. Construction is scheduled to begin next year and be completed in 2026.