Philip Kennedy (right) head of AcreBroadband, details the company plans to provide high speed internet service to rural portions of Iowa on Tuesday night at the Reinig-Toledo Civic Center. The presentation was part of the Tama County Economic Development Pitch and Build series. News-Herald photos/John Speer

“This is a big deal,” Iowa Governor Terry Branstad said at the ribbon cutting for Iowa Premium in Tama in 2014.

That sentiment was echoed Tuesday night by Tama County Economic Development Director Heath Kellogg in opening remarks for a pair of presentations at the quarterly Pitch and Build event in Toledo.

Up first was AcreBroadband’s CEO / CTO Philip Kennedy who said his company will begin to install equipment to provide high-speed internet service to rural Tama and neighboring counties in two months time.

Next was an explanation by Kellogg of the proposal by Hobart Restoration to convert the 27-acre Iowa Juvenile Home / State Training School for Girls property to a care and assisted living facility.

Tama County Economic Development’s Pitch and Build has been offered quarterly since August, 2012, to showcase business ideas or products originating in or benefiting the county.

The green area on the map represents the first counties to which AcreBroadband plans to provide service to in Iowa.

Rural Connection

AcreBroadband could be said to borrow it’s name from Governor Branstad’s call in 2014 to “Connect every acre.”

Kennedy said his company aims to provide broadband internet service comparable to what is available in larger cities to the farms and rural communities across the state with “cost the same in rural as in metro.”

AcreBroadband information says 53 percent or 55 million people in rural areas do not have high speed internet service available.

AcreBroadband has divided the State of Iowa into nine regions in which a network of high-speed internet services will be offered.

Tama County is in the first region which will have the system made available. The area is in east central Iowa and covers all or parts of seven Iowa counties.

Provided will be internet, mobile and customized services for agricultural needs.

The system will employ up to 70-80 persons full-time in each region Kennedy said in a response to a question from State Rep. Dean Fisher.

When complete, the system will not only allow homes to have the high-speed capability but it will extend to allow connection of farm buildings, farm field operations and rural commercial businesses, Kennedy said with both fixed and mobile applications.

Some of the nuts and bolts of the system includes the installation of equipment on telephone poles in an estimated 60 locations in each county. The locations will be determined to provide the best coverage area. Private locations will have an exterior antenna and be served by a wireless network.

Investor meetings will be coming up, Kennedy said. He said the first region cost of up to $25 million has already been funded.

Accompanying Kennedy Tuesday night were Joseph Gerke, chief operating officer and Stacey Stewart, chief marketing officer. According to the company website- AcreBroadband.com – the trio has a combined 88 years experience in the industry, among them, IBM, McLeodUSA, MCI, Lightwave System and Arthur Anderson Co.

IJH Plans

Hobart Historic Restoration plans to present a plan for new usage of the Iowa Juvenile Home in Toledo to Iowa Economic Development leaders in February, Health Kellogg reported. Jim Hobart, the head of the company was unable to be on hand Tuesday night to explain the proposal. Hobart had outlined the plans for the Toledo City Council on Monday.

IJH was closed in 2014 and the campus and buildings have sat idle since. The property belongs to the State of Iowa and future use must meet approval at that level..

The Hobart Company bought the former Otterbein United Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren) Church in downtown Toledo in 2015 and is planning to convert it into 15 apartments.

Kellogg said Jim Hobart often drives by the IJH site in his way to the church property and decided to take action.

Last week four architects accompanied Hobart and Kellogg on a day-long inspection of the property.

What has emerged is plans being formulated for the possible conversion of the educational building into nursing home type care and assisted living in some of the cottages on the property, Kellogg said.

He said a well-known healthcare organization has joined in planning the project but declined to reveal the name.

Kellogg said up to 80 persons would be employed if the project is realized.

The Hobart plan is not being conducted in conjunction with Matrix Design Group.

Matrix Design was given a $249,000 contract to formulate usage plans for the Juvenile home property as well as closed mental health institutions in Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant.

Toledo Mayor Dave Svoboda reported during the city council meeting on Monday night the Matrix results are expected to be released in February.