‘Big Gig Challenge’ Seeks to Bolster Muni Fiber Projects in Northeast Ohio

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Cleveland-based OneCommunity is focused on expanding high-speed broadband access and adoption in Northeast Ohio. The nonprofit organization has developed a 2,500-mile network that spans 24 counties, and provides hospitals, schools, government, public safety departments and businesses with high-speed Internet and data center services.

To bolster municipal fiber development in the region, OneCommunity recently announced its Big Gig Challenge, which will provide matching grants of up to 25 percent of the total project costs up to $2 million for municipally led, community-wide fiber construction projects in Northeast Ohio. The primary goal is to spur creative and collaborative approaches to building community fiber networks. Municipalities in the following counties are eligible: Ashland, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Geauga, Huron, Lake, Lorain, Mahoning, Medina, Ottawa, Portage, Richland, Sandusky, Stark, Summit, Trumbull and Wayne.