Ohio's Consolidated Electric Cooperative receives $2.4 million from U.S. Department of Agriculture

Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Governor Ted Strickland today recognized Consolidated Electric Cooperative’s (CEC) award of $2.4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to construct a 166-mile broadband network in North Central Ohio. This award, a grant-loan combination, was made possible through assistance from Connect Ohio, the state’s broadband initiative, and is a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s $7.2 billion broadband program.

Connect Ohio, a public-private partnership to increase broadband access throughout the state, assisted the project by providing data and guidance that was critical for developing the project application...