Project Grant 067906299

This $3 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) Project Grant under the agency's Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) program will fund the construction of 20 miles of underground fiber optic cable connecting Ann Arbor's existing fiber network to SmartZones located in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan, as well as the American Center for Mobility autonomous vehicle research facility. Awarded on July 22, 2021 to Ann Arbor Spark and the City of Ann Arbor, the expanded fiber network will ensure the region is able to attract and retain businesses in many new and emerging high-tech industries that are critical to the future economy, as reliable broadband access is increasingly important as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.