In a significant development for Whiteside County and Northwest Illinois, JCE Co-op has connected its 7,000th fiber customer in Garden Plain Township. Celebrating this milestone, local officials and stakeholders participated in a ceremonial ‘lighting up’ event, marking progress in their broadband expansion project.
Whiteside County Board Chair Marty Koster presented a $1 million check to JCE Co-op’s President Mike Casper, symbolizing the county’s commitment to closing the digital divide. This initiative, part of a $121 million investment, will lay 1,500 miles of fiber, enhancing connectivity for 10,000 local entities, promising substantial economic and community benefits.
Economic Development Director Gary Camarano underscored the transformative role of broadband access in rural areas. Referencing the Center on Rural Innovation, Camarano revealed significant benefits for communities adopting broadband fiber: business growth rates surge by 213%, self-employment grows by 10%, per capita income rises by 18%, and GDP expands by 44%.
On the flip side, rural regions lacking broadband face economic stagnation, population decreases, and business shutdowns. The message is clear: broadband is not just a utility but a catalyst for economic prosperity and stability in rural communities.
