Broadband access continues to be among chief concerns in rural parts of Michigan

Arpan Lobo, The Holland Sentinel
·2 min read
FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2007 file photo, A.J. Bowen of Schupp's Line Construction, Inc. works on fiber-optic installation in Norton, Vt. In rural parts of Michigan, access to high speed internet remains an obstacle to growth, rural community leaders said during a roundtable discussion Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2007 file photo, A.J. Bowen of Schupp's Line Construction, Inc. works on fiber-optic installation in Norton, Vt. In rural parts of Michigan, access to high speed internet remains an obstacle to growth, rural community leaders said during a roundtable discussion Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.
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GRAND RAPIDS — A lack of reliable high speed internet and concerns about population loss were two of the key issues raised during a roundtable with officials from rural communities and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other state officials Friday.

Whitmer, along with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Director Gary McDowell and Michigan Economic Development Corporation CEO Quintin Messer spoke with elected officials and economic advocates during the roundtable, which was held virtually. Media were allowed to join toward the end of the event.

The governor pointed to the federal dollars sent to Michigan through coronavirus relief packages as an opportunity for investment throughout the state, including its rural areas.

“We’re in a position where we’re debating where to make investments,” Whitmer said. “How do we set a path that is really going to be transformation? How do we ensure that rural communities are part of driving that agenda?”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks during an update on the state's situation with the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, outside the Hispanic Center of West Michigan in Grand Rapids, Mich. On Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, Whitmer and other state officials participated in a roundtable discussion with community leaders from rural areas throughout Michigan.

Community members highlighted a lack of consistent broadband connections in rural parts of the state. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, working remotely can be difficult, if not impossible, without a stable internet connection.

“Broadband is probably the first thing that we hear that we just need to get corrected,” McDowell said. And coming out of the pandemic, it's just the opportunity to do it because it really shines a spotlight on it.”

Additional concerns included access to affordable housing, something officials point to as key in attracting and retaining workforce talent.

State officials touted the new Office of Rural Development, housed within MDARD. Whitmer signed an executive directive Jan. 4 creating the office, which is designed to promote rural economic growth, bolster housing in rural areas and promote sustainable energy development, among other aims. Whitmer said she’s hopeful the state Legislature will pass a bill to codify the office’s existence even after she leaves office.

“This is something that I think needs to transcend the politics of the day or the office holder of the time, because I do think that there's a lot of value here,” she said.

In October, Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Vulcan, introduced a bill to permanently create an Office of Rural Development. The bill has yet to advance out of its Senate committee.

— Contact Arpan Lobo at alobo@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @arpanlobo. Become a subscriber today.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Access to broadband remains priority for rural parts of Michigan