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EDA $700K Grant to City of Cleveland/OneCommunity Lays Groundwork for First Commercially Available 100 Gigabit Fiber Network


Cleveland, OH, November 21, 2014-The City of Cleveland and OneCommunity are installing the nation’s first commercially available metropolitan 100 gigabit network. The 100 gigabit network will connect in downtown Cleveland, through Cleveland’s Health-Tech Corridor (HTC) to University Circle. The innovative $1.02 million project will be made possible through a recently- awarded, $700,000 Economic Development Administration Grant combined with supplemental funding from the City of Cleveland and OneCommunity setting a new “Gold Standard” for connectivity.

“EDA is pleased to invest in the strong regional collaboration being led by the City of Cleveland and OneCommunity to establish a network that will connect the Health-Tech Corridor,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams. “This public/private partnership will drive innovation and job creation for the City and regional businesses to support entrepreneurs and advance the region’s reputation as a destination for innovation.”

“Health technology is an important, prominent and promising industry within the City of Cleveland,” said Mayor Frank G. Jackson. “With the announcement of this 100 gigabit network, Cleveland is established as a center for innovation, while providing our area businesses with a competitive advantage that will allow more job opportunities to be created for residents.”

“We are extremely enthusiastic about our partnership with the City of Cleveland and excited to be at the forefront of a project that is destined to become the new “Gold Standard” for broadband connectivity. Consistent with our mission, we embrace 100 gigabit as a job creation engine for the City. Offering the first 100 gigabit capability, specifically in the Health-Tech Corridor, incentivizes local and national fast-growing companies to locate and remain here,” says OneCommunity CEO Lev Gonick.

Companies reliant on the transmission of Big Data recognize the importance of having the  fastest broadband availability. By lighting up its 100 gigabit network, Cleveland and OneCommunity are enabling a first mover advantage in response to the insatiable demand for speed and availability posed by Big Data companies, data centers and wireless carriers. Today, Big Data consumption demands the movement of more information at a significantly faster pace. This is especially true for companies involved with healthcare, technology and research.

Sue Workman, Case Western Reserve University Vice President IT Services/CIO adds, "This exciting federal grant illustrates the achievements possible when Cleveland organizations come together to serve the best interests of our community. The new technology will increase Internet connectivity on our campus by a factor of 50, and provide comparable gains in speed elsewhere along its deployment. We are proud to be part of this broad partnership, and look forward to the benefits the 100-gigabit connection will bring to students, faculty and staff at  Case Western Reserve."

Construction of the 100 gigabit network will commence in early 2015, designed to connect from Idea Center, numerous buildings and land parcels throughout the Health-Tech Corridor, to Case Western Reserve University and the University Circle area, to help drive economic development in the area. Targeted completion is slated for early summer.

According to ideastream President and CEO Jerry Wareham, “The Idea Center will be a node on this new network which will allow for the transmission of data and rich media including video and audio such as the award winning health information and education content developed by ideastream. The network will also provide the potential for advanced R&D and front-line opportunities.”

“Access to this 100 gigabit network unlocks the door to increased innovations in research and technology. It gives us an unparalleled edge in research and technology as well as the ability to share information from others who recognize the significance and importance of Big Data,” explains John Foley, CIO of University Hospitals.

For updates and additional information, please visit www.100gigCle.org.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.

About the City of Cleveland
The City of Cleveland is committed to improving the quality of life in Cleveland by strengthening our neighborhoods, delivering superior services, embracing the diversity of our citizens, and making Cleveland a desirable, safe city in which to live, work, raise a family, shop, study, play and grow old.

About OneCommunity
OneCommunity is a nonprofit organization based in Cleveland that works to expand high-speed broadband access and adoption to strengthen Northeast Ohio. OneCommunity’s vision is that advanced digital capabilities and effective use of technology will help transform the region and establish it as a national hub for innovation and economic growth. For more information on OneCommunity, please visit  www.onecommunity.org.

About Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is one of the country’s leading private research institutions. Located in Cleveland, we offer a unique combination of forward-thinking educational opportunities in an inspiring cultural setting. Our leading-edge faculty engage in teaching and research in a collaborative, hands-on environment. Our nationally recognized programs include arts and sciences, dental medicine, engineering, law, management, medicine, nursing and social work. About 4,200 undergraduate and 5,600 graduate students comprise our student body. Visit case.edu to see how Case Western Reserve thinks beyond the possible.

About ideastream
ideastream is a multiple media public service organization with a mission to strengthen our communities. The organization applies the power of media to education, culture and citizenship through production and distribution of a range of programs, services and community engagement employing: multiple channel television and radio broadcast stations; broadband interactive distance learning; fixed media; multiple rich web sites; and a technology enhanced place for the community to convene at the Idea Center. ideastream focuses on the following areas determined after extensive and ongoing ascertainment of community needs: Arts and Culture; Community Assets and Challenges; Health Information; Issues relating to the State of Ohio; and Education (including instructional content and training of teachers in the use of technology to advance learning). ideastream is the consolidation of eight educational and public service media programs or services that had previously been separately managed: WVIZ/PBS with four channels of public television service; 90.3 WCPN Northeast Ohio’s NPR News station; WCLV Classical 104.9 with classical music around the clock; Civic Commons, a multiple media community engagement program; Management on behalf of Ohio’s public broadcasting stations of the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau and The Ohio Channel a statewide public affairs television channel available by broadcast and on the web; Management on behalf of consortia of local K-12 school systems of NOTA (North Ohio Technology Association) a broadband interactive distance learning network for K-12 schools) and SMART (Science and Math Achievement Required for Tomorrow) a professional development program for teachers.

About the Health-Tech Corridor
The HTC is a 1,600 acre area, connecting Cleveland’s downtown core with the cultural hub of University Circle on the City’s eastside. The goal of the HTC is to establish the region as a prime geographic location for attracting and growing health and technology businesses, while demonstrating that focused community-wide collaboration rooted in market fundamentals can redevelop the urban core. The addition of the 100 gigabit network, the first of its kind, provides immense potential for marketing, international press and business attraction, all advancing the health and prosperity of the region. For more information, please visit http://www.healthtechcorridor.com/

About University Hospitals
University Hospitals, the second largest employer in Northeast Ohio with 25,000 employees, serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 15 hospitals, 28 outpatient health centers and primary care physician offices in 15 counties. At the core of our $3.5 billion health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center, ranked among America’s 50 best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report in all 12 methodology-ranked specialties. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, UH Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopaedics, radiology, neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, digestive health, transplantation and genetics. Its main campus includes UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. For more information, go to www.uhhospitals.org