The Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) broadband project announced a major investment in Grey County.
In a release on November 17, the SWIFT group detailed a $16.9 million investment that will bring and expand high-speed broadband services to 3,960 households and businesses across 25 communities in Grey County. SWIFT has awarded $10.6 million in provincial and federal funding for Meaford and West Grey to improve local high-speed internet there, as well as improvements throughout Chatsworth, Georgian Bluffs and Southgate.
An additional $6.2 million will come from internet providers to help improve the services. SWIFT has signed an agreement with EH!tel Networks, Wightman Telecom, Xplornet Communications Inc. and GBTEL to help with the expansion and improvement of local broadband services.
Bruce County will be receiving roughly $16 million in funding, as well, which will connect approximately 5,220 more homes and businesses. SWIFT has awarded $9.1 million in federal and provincial funding to improve high-speed internet connectivity throughout the municipalities of Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Northern Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce, Huron- Kinloss, and South Bruce Peninsula, and in the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
In total, the region will receive $16.3 million in broadband upgrades, including more than $7.2 million in contributions from the internet service providers.
“SWIFT is leading the way in connectivity across Southwestern Ontario and is now rolling out high-speed infrastructure projects throughout the region to bring fast, reliable internet services to more homes and businesses in partnership with our community leaders and local service providers,” says David Mayberry, SWIFT Board Chair. “The broadband investments announced today will have long-term positive impacts in Grey County and will drive economic growth throughout the region.”
“Now more than ever, access to high-speed internet is essential as Grey County residents are spending more time online working, learning and doing business,” says Grey County Warden Paul McQueen. “Access to reliable high-speed internet is vital to our future. It’s encouraging to know SWIFT projects will soon be underway, expanding this important infrastructure in Grey County.”
“Access to reliable, affordable, fast internet is essential to move Bruce County into a strong, resilient future. The funding from the Province and the Federal governments will allow the SWIFT program to move one more step closer to making this a reality for all of our businesses and residents,” says Bruce County Warden Mitch Twolan. “County Council is excited to work alongside project partners in seeing this important initiative realized.”
"The importance of connecting to reliable, high-speed internet is of utmost importance and our government has been working very hard to expand high-speed internet across rural Ontario," says Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. "I have been a tireless advocate for it in Huron-Bruce as part of my rural lens commitment to rural Ontario. This is great news for residents in the Cargill and Formosa areas where this service is very much needed as these communities continue to grow."
"Now, more than ever, we all understand the importance and value of having access to reliable and high-speed internet services. More and more residents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound are working from home, ordering everyday items online and using online platforms to stay connected with their friends and family," says Bill Walker, MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. "I'm very excited to see the SWIFT project moving into the next stage in Grey and Bruce Counties. I'm looking forward to SWIFT progressing to improve connectivity in our rural areas."