Pulling out all the stops to woo Google
The full press is on to convince Google to make Kalamazoo one of its test sites for its ultra high-speed broadband network. As the Friday March 26 deadline approaches to apply to be one of several trial locations around the country, city officials, local boosters and residents are holding meetings, recording video pitches to Google and spreading the word in a number of ways to anyone who will listen, asking them to join in in nominating Kalamazoo. Support has been building in the Kalamazoo area ever since the project was announced.In Kalamazoo Wednesday, March 24, there was a town hall meeting to talk about why Google Fiber is important. Residents were asked to share their thoughts on video in hopes to convince Google decision-makers that Kalamazoo is the right place for the pilot project, which would provide a fiber-optic network to at least 50,000 homes and businesses at 200 times the current speed, at a price Google says is comparable to existing services. The local grassroots effort, Kalamazoo Google Collaborative, is bragging about Kalamazoo's past and present innovations, its prime location between Detroit and Chicago and its dedication to education as witnessed by the Kalamazoo Promise, a college scholarship program for all grads of Kalamazoo Public Schools, and four institutions of higher learning — Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Davenport University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College."Many people may not know that Kalamazoo has quietly taken risks and leads the nation in many ways throughout its history," says Kalamazoogle.com backer and Newmind Group Owner Daniel Jefferies. "From the science and innovations of Upjohn and Stryker, to its downtown walking mall, to the role in creating one of the first public high schools, and most recently the creation of the Kalamazoo Promise."Over the weekend, supporters passed out 30,000 fliers about the project in hopes of encouraging nominations for Kalamazoo. Official support for the effort has come from the cities of Kalamazoo, Portage and at least 13 of the county's 15 townships.Writer: Kathy JenningsSource: Daniel Jefferies, Newmind Group
