Berrien County’s efforts to expand broadband internet to unserved residents have been put in the spotlight in a new article published by the Michigan Association of Counties.

“Public-private partnership brings high-speed internet to rural residents,” written by Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette and in the association’s monthly newsletter for June, explains the work done in both Berrien and Van Buren counties with Midwest Energy and Communications.

Berrien County Commissioner Teri Freehling, who sits on the county’s broadband committee, tells us thanks to a state grant, the number of residents served by broadband is climbing quickly.

“I would say that we are right on the cusp of seeing that number grow exponentially because of the work with MEC, which is Midwest Energy and Communications, who received the Robin Grant awarded through the state of Michigan, where they’re going to be building out nearly to 10,000 parcels,” Freehling said. 

Freehling says MEC has so far built out more than 50 miles of fiber in Bertrand Township, and another 60 miles is coming to Galien Township. Weesaw Township and Baroda Township will see similar projects.

“Right now, we’ve had about 2,000 parcels just through the work of a federal grant that were awarded to different internet service providers for Berrien County.”

Freehling says the overall ROBIN grant-funded broadband project is slated to be finished in 2026. Berrien County has also been using some of its own funds to expand broadband to areas that didn’t quality for help under the ROBIN grant.

Freehling says Berrien has been at the forefront of counties when it comes to bridging the digital divide, something that kicked into high gear during the pandemic.