Purdue University President Mung Chiang took time to speak with local Purdue University Extension members and other entities Monday morning at the Starke County Economic Development Foundation offices in Knox.
Starke County Youth Club Executive Director Irene Szakonyi spoke of Purdue’s partnership with the after school enrichment programs to assist students with activities and homework help. She added that there are wrap around services available to students and families to address substance abuse issues and the poverty aspect of the community.
Purdue Extension Starke County Community Wellness Coordinator Debbie Mix noted that work is continuing to work to address substance abuse and discussed the transitional housing for men with Hope Restored in North Judson and grants that are going to help with more programs.
Larry Wickert went through various topics that Starke County currently features which include specialty crops with mint, the lakes and rivers in the county, tourism, community parks, housing projects, solar production, community support programs, 4-H, and infrastructure work. He also pointed to barriers that face the county including low income, lack of childcare, and unhealthy lifestyles with obesity, smoking, drugs, and alcohol use.
One of the main items Chiang discussed was the launch of a broadband team. He stated in a press release that the lack of affordable high-speed broadband affects economic development and quality of life statewide and hopes Purdue will be useful as the state government plans the Next Level broadband deployment.
Purdue University is taking the lead in making sure Indiana families and businesses have access to affordable broadband internet service while also focusing on data accuracy that will help the state deploy $868 million in federal funding from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, or BEAD, Program for high-speed internet improvements.
“We feel that there is a timely need as the federal BEAD money coming to all of the states including Indiana and there is a small role that Purdue as the land-grant institution can play here through both engagement and Extension Offices so that we can help in the mapping. We don’t do the building, but we can help with the using after it is built as well. Some of that is already built and we can help with the using right away. With the potential build out, how do we make sure that the speed and addresses are accurate on the federal map?”
Chiang is visiting all 92 counties in the state to hear community impacts of internet connectivity.
To check internet speed, visit pcrd.purdue.edu/speedtest. If someone does not have internet, residents can text ‘Internet’ to INDY-464699.
