Kendall County will get $15 million from the Illinois Office of Broadband to help expand high-speed internet access in the county.
County officials announced Wednesday that with the grant award, the county intends to develop a public-private partnership that will result in more than $40 million in investment in a community-owned broadband network.
The network will provide broadband access to portions of the county not currently served by high-speed internet, allow for an expanded public safety communication network, provide the most cost-effective access to other government agencies and support economic development, a county press release said.
“What we aim to achieve in this community-owned infrastructure project is a holistic solution that connects those currently under- and unserved while also making strides towards the future development of our community, such as priming key areas for economic development and bolstering emergency communication,” said Zach Bachmann, Kendall County Board member and chair of the Connect Kendall County Commission. “We believe this is the best way we can bridge our digital divide.”
More than 1,900 homes in Kendall County are considered unserved or underserved with internet access. In 2022, the county began assessing ways to bridge this gap, officials said.
The Connect Kendall County Commission was established in 2023 by the Kendall County Board to study connectivity and ways to deliver high-speed internet across the county.
The commission issued a request for proposals for a partner in constructing a middle-mile ring of broadband fiber for the project. The county selected Pivot-Tech, a fiber and wireless development company, based on its vision and project area expertise, officials said.
“This project leverages federal funds available for broadband connection to benefit the residents and businesses of the county,” Matt Kellogg, Kendall County Board chair, said. “This county-owned asset will support the needs of nearly everyone across the county and beyond.”
As part of the public-private partnership, Pivot-Tech plans to bring more than $25 million in additional private capital and project-based revenue bonds to finance the project, according to officials.
Kendall County intends to enter into a concession agreement for the finance, development, construction and operation of the broadband network for an extended term, according to officials.
The county would be a stakeholder in the network’s development and operation and receive a portion of the project’s profits, officials said. The project is expected to begin in the fall.
slord@tribpub.com
