Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs recently announced the Indiana Connectivity Program awarded $654,678 to expand broadband access to 253 addresses across 40 Indiana counties.

The program is a new resource designed to help more Hoosier residents and business owners obtain access to high-speed, quality broadband.

The program acts as a tool to connect residents and businesses that lack internet service with internet service providers and assist in the expense of extending broadband to unserved and underserved locations.

“The Indiana Connectivity Program is unique in the fact that homeowners and business owners themselves can apply, rather than broadband providers initiating the interest,” Crouch said. “We are empowering Hoosiers and giving them a voice to express their need for broadband service, helping expand broadband to more people across the state. This program is still available for Hoosiers to apply, and I encourage them to submit their address.”

Of the 253 addresses funded, 246 are households and seven are businesses. Internet providers carrying out the projects are matching more than $1.5 million for a total investment of $2.2 million.

Those awarded funding include Jackson County REMC, which received $2,000 for one address.

For the full list of providers granted funding, visit in.gov/ocra/broadband/icp.

“Over two hundred and fifty rural households and businesses will soon have reliable internet as a result of this program,” OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner said. “This will have a great impact on these Hoosier’s everyday lives, whether it be having the ability to work and learn remotely, shop online or connect virtually with family and friends.”

The program accepts addresses on a rolling basis. Hoosiers and business owners lacking internet connectivity can communicate their interest by entering their address and information into the Next Level Connections portal at in.gov/ocra/broadband.

Hoosiers also can initiate interest by calling the Indiana Broadband Connect Center, which is open on business days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hoosiers can reach the call center at 833-639-8522. Submitting location information into the Next Level Connections portal does not guarantee extension of service.

Broadband providers must complete their projects within nine months of the contract date.