ELKHART, Ind. – Surf Internet℠ celebrated deployment of their fiber-optic internet services in the Town of Culver, Indiana, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 31. Central to the launch was over $530,000 from the Culver Redevelopment Commission, as well as nearly $800,000 in private investment from Surf Internet.
“A story like Culver’s is a testament to what can happen when strategic private and public investments are leveraged together to achieve what would otherwise be out of reach,” said Gene Crusie, Surf CEO. “We’re proud to have partnered with representatives of Culver’s internet task force and Redevelopment Commission, who worked diligently with us to bring high-speed fiber internet to their town. It’s exciting to see the transformative impact this will have on everything from education, to healthcare, and remote work.”
Culver, like many small, often rural communities in the Great Lakes region, has placed fiber internet as a top priority for businesses and residents alike. Without interest from large internet service providers to come to their town of roughly 1,200 people, they put together a task force led by then Town Manager Ginny Munroe to study their options. Surf Internet was ultimately awarded the project, investing nearly $800,000 of their own funds to complete construction, along with over $530,000 of funds committed by the Redevelopment Commission.
“The broadband fiber project was the result of collaboration: a volunteer committee of people here in Culver, an investment from the Culver Redevelopment Commission, and a terrific company like Surf willing to invest in Culver,” said Ginny Munroe, former town manager and former Council president. “Broadband fiber was at the top of the list of priorities that had come out of surveying our schools, businesses, and residents. The icing on the cake was being able to work with a company like Surf. They cared about rolling this project out as smoothly as we wanted them to, and they proved why they have an excellent reputation for their work.”
Marty Oosterbaan, president of the Culver Redevelopment Commission added, “Culver has always been an ideal destination for vacationers. Now, it’s an ideal spot for remote workers as well.”
The first Culver residents to receive Surf fiber-optic internet was the Luttrell family. Jennifer Luttrell, a local real estate agent, commented, “We have been very happy with Surf’s fiber [internet] service. With working from home remotely at times to streaming movies, our service has relieved a lot of headaches in not having to wait so long on the internet!
The work in Culver is part of Surf’s overall commitment to build an advanced fiber-optic network serving rural communities across the Great Lakes Region of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Residents who would like to see if Surf Internet services are currently available for a specific address, can visit https://surfinternet.com/ and click the “Check Availability” button.
About Surf Internet
Surf Internet is an innovative fiber-optic internet company that serves as the essential gateway to connectivity across the Great Lakes Region of Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The company is building a bridge to the wide open future by delivering high-speed, reliable internet to homes and businesses in underserved, rural communities. Surf’s 140-plus-person team is local, giving them an edge when it comes to customer care and advocacy for the region. Headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., Surf also has offices in La Porte, Ind., Byron Center and Fowlerville, Mich., and Coal City and Rock Falls, Ill. Learn more at https://surfinternet.com.
