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Multi-million dollar program brings scores of jobs to MidMichigan
Posted: 09.15.2010 at 5:03 PM
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A local company will be using millions of dollars to possibly bring you high speed internet.

Until now many rural areas couldn't receive high speed internet, and the move is bringing more than 100 new jobs.

Dave Simmet of Air Advantage says, "We're excited about bringing people to the area, hiring people that may be out of work today, and providing some opportunities for them."

Those opportunities helped by a $64-million boost from the U.S. Department of Agriculture means 142 new jobs.

It includes positions for installers, technicians, and customer service professionals.

The company says its installation process is cheaper than trenching in or polling in cable wire.

Simmet says, "We don't have a cable. We put out equipment on a house and broadcast to an antenna that we install on your house."

Air Advantage services five counties, but now it says it'll provide service to 13-counties and up to 700,000 households.

"We're going to move our service to Livingston County, Genesee County, Shiawassee County, Saginaw County, Midland County, and Bay County," says Simmet.

The managers of the company graduated from Thumb-area schools, which makes their mission personal.

"Kids would go to school, they'd have great internet access at schools, but when they went home, the didn't have any internet access, says Simmet.

The $64-million is half grant money, half loan money.

The process will take three years to complete.

Air Advantage says its basic service starts at $38 a month.

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