Client News
ELLETTSVILLE and MARTINSVILLE (Indiana – March 17, 2020) – Smithville Communications, Inc., a top 100 national broadband company, and SCI REMC, Indiana’s largest rural electric cooperative, are launching a unique customer-focused agreement. The partnership will accelerate the delivery of high-speed fiber broadband internet to residents and businesses in the common service areas between the two companies.
When completed, the project will serve approximately 3,400 residents and businesses in the common service areas around Ellettsville, Lake Monroe, and Gosport. These include homes presently served by copper-based service.
“This partnership represents a huge win for rural residents in south-central Indiana, and these two companies are proving how Hoosiers can innovate and work together to deliver cutting-edge services to consumers,” said Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch. “As we move to take Indiana to the Next Level, Smithville and SCI REMC are raising the bar and setting an example for how to purposefully accelerate the availability of high-speed broadband in the state.”
“Smithville is pleased to partner with SCI REMC for this project,” said Darby McCarty, Chairman and CEO of Smithville. “We both serve customers in the same geographic area, so it makes sense to work together to provide service, particularly with the high cost to build in rural areas. The real winners here are the residents, who will have better, more reliable internet service as a result.
FRENCH LICK – Direct revenue, tax and indirect income totaling up to $150 million represents the projected forecast from an independent analysis of the Mid-States Corridor Option 3F, according to a study sponsored by the French Lick Parkway Coalition and COOK Group. The research analyzing the potential of a new interstate in the Orange and Lawrence County region was conducted by Ginovus and the Indiana University Public Policy Institute.
According to the analysis, between 500-700 jobs are expected to be created during and after construction in and around Orange and Lawrence counties. Economic development professionals noted the added strong potential for commercial defense growth associated with NSWC and NSA Crane as an expected result of the new interstate.
The following summarizes key benefits of the 3F interstate option for the Mid-States Corridor in southern Indiana, as demonstrated by recent research conducted by Ginovus and the Indiana University Public Policy Institute. A full copy of the research is available for download at http://frenchlickparkwaycoalition.com/
Key Points from GINOVUS & IU Public Policy Institute Study
- Completion of route 3F shows “potential for significant growth in regional employment, wages, and tax revenue.”
WASHINGTON, Indiana – Through high-tech secure connectivity, rural elementary and middle school kids at North Daviess, Loogootee, Barr-Reeve and Cloverdale will now have access to state-of-the-art telemedicine, according to Kathleen Chelminiak, project director of the Indiana Rural School Clinic Network (IRSCN). On January 16, IRSCN announced the opening of new school-based telehealth clinics in Daviess, Martin and Putnam counties. The clinics in Daviess and Martin counties will be served by health care professionals at Daviess Community Hospital, while the high-tech clinic located in Cloverdale will be served by medical professionals at Putnam County Hospital.
The new clinics will make available a new host of on-site medical services to students, said Chelminiak. The opening of the new clinics was celebrated by separate events at Daviess Community Hospital and Putnam County Hospital on January 16.
Officials participating in the event at Daviess Community Hospital included Cara Veale, vice president of Provider Services for the hospital; Chip Mehaffey, superintendent of Loogootee schools; Tiffany Lingenfelter, Loogootee school nurse; Renee Judy, principal of North Daviess; Carrie Loheider, North Daviess school nurse; Travis Madison, superintendent of Barr Reeve schools; and Mandy Ash, Barr Reeve nurse. Officials participating in the Cloverdale event included Greg Linton, superintendent of Cloverdale Community Schools; Tiffany Shields, Cloverdale schools nurse; Meagan Montague, Practice Manager of Putnam County Hospital; Jane Littiken, director of Physician Practices; Kathleen Chelminiak, project director for IRSCN and the Indiana Rural Health Association; and others.
“Through these state-of-the-art clinics, rural students at North Daviess, Loogootee, Barr-Reeve and Cloverdale schools will have access to an Indiana licensed physician or provider from a hospital who will use high-tech and high-resolution diagnostic technology – such as an electronic otoscope or digital stethoscope – to digitally view ears, eyes and throat as needed during a student’s visit,” said Chelminiak.
SHARPSVILLE, Indiana (JAN 14 2020) – Smithville, a national top 100 broadband company based in southern Indiana, launched a $2.7 million high-speed fiber broadband expansion in northern Tipton and southern Howard counties in mid-January, according to Darby McCarty, chairman and CEO of Smithville. As part of the comprehensive project, Smithville will be bringing its premium gigabit speed internet to more than 580 residences in a rural region near Sharpsville, Indiana.
The Smithville expansion will be funded in part from a $250,000 grant from Indiana’s Next Level Connections (NLC) Broadband Grant Program, helping fund the cost to build fiber to some 127 households within the project area that are currently considered unserved, with speeds below 10/1 Mbps. “We are grateful to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his vision and commitment to expand and strengthen Indiana’s critical broadband infrastructure and the focus on reaching Hoosiers in rural areas that are considered unserved,” said Cullen McCarty, executive vice president of Smithville.
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Recognizing its outstanding support to rural hospitals, clinics and others, the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) was formally named a national “Community Star” by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) on November 21. The recognition was formally conferred on National Rural Health Day at the IRHA Rural Summit here.
NOSORH promotes National Rural Health Day (NRHD) on the third Thursday of November. Its focus is to “shine a light on those who serve the vital health needs of the estimated 57 million people living in rural America,” according to NOSORH. State Offices of Rural Health (SORH), including the Indiana State Office of Rural Health (InSORH), provide support to rural hospitals, clinics, and first responders in several ways, including technical assistance, funding that supports workforce development, population health management, quality improvement initiatives and more.
“Given their successful partnerships with state agencies, school systems, rural hospitals and clinics, and Indiana policy makers to reduce infant mortality, help fund and open rural school telehealth clinics and setting high standards to document, share and promote relevant healthcare experience, the Indiana Rural Health Association is certainly deserving of this national recognition,” said Joyce M. Fillenwarth, InSORH Manager.
ELLETTSVILLE, Indiana – Joining other national broadband figures such as Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, Smithville Chairman and CEO Darby A. McCarty was named as an inaugural 2019 Broadband Hero by USTelecom for her continued work in “making distinguished and game-changing contributions to connect communities,” according to Jonathan Spalter, USTelecom President and CEO.
During the award presentation, Jack Keen, CEO of the Western New Mexico Telephone Company, noted that Ms. McCarty “has grown Smithville into Indiana’s largest independent telecommunications company and has been named a Top 100 National Broadband Company for an unprecedented 11 years in a row.”
He added that “While Smithville is locally owned, Darby is nationally recognized – she is a respected voice at USTelecom, and her insights are central to shaping the association’s vision for our connected future.” He went on to note that Ms. McCarty is “first and often most forceful in promoting smart [broadband] policies and investing in deploying fiber.”
ODON, Indiana (October 30, 2019) – Berry Global Group, Inc. (NYSE: BERY) broke ground today for a significant expansion of its blown film operations, according to Bryant Niehoff, executive director of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. The project will include a 40,000 sq. ft. expansion of its current facility and the creation of 11 new jobs.
“We are pleased to continue what has become a strong partnership with the town of Odon and Daviess County,” said Phil Stolz, Executive Vice President of Operations for Berry’s Engineered Materials Division. “As a global corporation, we regard local engagement as very important to our short- and long-term success, and we appreciate what the state of Indiana and the local county has done to make our growth possible here.”