Leaders, partners, and residents gathered to celebrate a transformative milestone in rural Indiana’s digital future: the Cass County READI Grant Celebration. This event marked major progress in a project launched in 2023 aimed at bringing 1 gig speed to thousands of residents across Cass County.
Funded through Indiana’s Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI), the $5.2 million broadband expansion project is a partnership between the Indiana Department of Economic Development, Cass County Government, and Miami-Cass REMC. The initiative is delivering 202 miles of fiber-optic cable, enabling service for 2,135 homes and businesses and reaching more than 80% of Cass County’s rural population.
Originally scheduled to complete by August 2026, the project is ahead of schedule and is now expected to be finished by December 2025.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Launched in 2023, the Cass County READI broadband initiative is helping close the long-standing digital gap in rural areas where internet service has historically been slow, costly, or unavailable. Now, residents in previously underserved communities have access to speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second—empowering households, students, and businesses with modern connectivity.
“This project is not just about faster internet—it’s about unlocking economic opportunity, supporting remote work and learning, and enhancing overall quality of life,” said a spokesperson from Miami-Cass REMC. “Cass County is now among the most digitally connected rural areas in the state.”
First Connections: Real Stories of Impact
The celebration also honored the first three residents to be connected through the program —each with a unique story demonstrating the life-changing benefits of high-speed internet.
Joseph Stackhouse
A third-party IT consultant for several local businesses, Stackhouse had relied on a mobile hotspot with limited reliability. Since switching to fiber, his internet speeds have increased fivefold.
Karen and Jerome Shidler
Former DSL users, the Shidler’s went from 6 Mbps to 100 Mbps, with the ability to scale to 1 Gig as needed. With a mesh router setup covering their home and garage.
Javier Castillo
Previously on Broadway Broadbands wireless service, Castillo upgraded to fiber and now pays $25 less per month. He went from 10/3 Mbps to symmetrical 100/100 Mbps, enabling his household to stream, connect multiple devices, and support a security camera system.
Looking Ahead
The project continues to move rapidly toward its completion goal of December 2025. With each passing mile of fiber and each home connected, Cass County moves closer to a future where every resident regardless of location can participate fully in the digital economy.
As the celebration concluded, the message was clear: Broadband isn’t just about faster internet. In Cass County, it’s about building a better-connected future for all.
