Kalamazoogle needs your supportMarch 18, 2010 KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University's hometown is competing to attract a Google infrastructure investment that could lure new businesses to the area and serve as the ultimate high-tech recruiting tool for top researchers and students.
Kalamazoo has joined ranks with Kalamazoo Township, Oshtemo and Portage to mount a single bid to become the site of a Google fiber-optic installation that will be used to test an ultra-high-speed broadband network. The community project has been dubbed Kalamazoogle. Community leaders must respond to Google's Request for Information by March 26 to stay in the running against other cities around the nation. Winners will get a fiber-optic network capable of providing Internet access to at least 50,000 homes and businesses--access that is up to 200 times faster than what is now available. Citizen involvement is a critical part of the mix, says Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell, and area residents and organizations can help by nominating Kalamazoo as a Google test site and contributing to the support materials being gathered.
More artistic residents are encouraged to create videos in support of the city's bid. Videos can be sent to kzoogooglefiber@kalamazoocity.org or posted on the Google Fiber in Kalamazoo Facebook page. "We'd love to have videos from individuals or organizations who can tell their story about what Google Fiber might do for them," Hopewell says. "We want people to really think and dream about how they could use such a high-speed connection. We are on a short timeline, so swift efforts will be appreciated." Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu WMU News |
