PORTLAND, Maine — With 50 applications from organizations representing 14 of Maine’s 16 counties, one week remains for Maine-based non-profits to apply for $50,000 in grants through the FairPoint Connected Communities program.
FairPoint Communications launched FairPoint Connected Communities on May 22 to recognize non-profit organizations dedicated to connecting and serving Maine residents and communities. Three non-profit organizations will be selected to receive $16,000 each and a technology package valued up to $1,000 to help advance their charitable missions. Applications must be submitted online before midnight Friday, June 16.
”We are thrilled by the response we’ve received so far from the non-profit community and impressed beyond measure by the fine work each of them is doing for our state,” said Mike Reed, FairPoint’s Maine state president. “We encourage any interested non-profit organization in the State of Maine to use this final week to submit an application.”
Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Maine may apply to be one of three FairPoint Connected Communities recipients. The application, which can be found at www.fairpoint.com/connectedcommunities/apply, requires a short narrative on how the organization connects people and improves the lives of residents within their communities, and how use of the internet contributes to its mission.
FairPoint Communications will announce the winners in early July and visit each organization to present the awards throughout the summer months.
FairPoint’s Broadband Expansion
Since 2008, FairPoint has invested more than $50 million to extend broadband service in Maine which is now available in more than 88% of its service territory in the state. In 2016, FairPoint’s network investments impacted more than 60,000 locations in Maine, many of which are in rural areas, with new or upgraded service, and the Company’s 2017 projects are expected to impact an additional 30,000 locations in the state.
Through the Company’s own investments as well as with support from Phase II of the Federal Connect America Fund, FairPoint is reaching more unserved and underserved rural residents and businesses in Maine. FairPoint’s next phase of upgrades, which bring local access to broadband technology for the first time or a significant upgrade over previously available speeds, includes projects in more than 100 towns.
FairPoint’s network – with approximately 18,000 miles of fiber in northern New England – is the largest in the region.
For information regarding the FairPoint Connected Communities recognition program and information on FairPoint’s Maine broadband buildout project, visit www.fairpoint.com/connectedcommunities.
For more information about FairPoint’s voice and internet services in Maine, residential consumers may call 1-866-984-2001 and businesses may call 1-866-984-3001 or visit www.FairPoint.com.
