March 5, 2010

Dear Business Owner/Manager:

The City is seeking to partner with businesses and residents to be selected as a Google test market for their “Fiber to Communities Program”.   Google’s ultra-high speed broadband network will operate over 100 times faster than what most Americans have today and is expected to drive innovation in high-definition video, remote data storage, real-time multimedia collaboration, and other areas.  It will enable new consumer applications, as well as medical, educational, and other services that can benefit communities. 

As the competition along I-75 heats up, we are faced with an ever increasing array of competing communities that offer higher income and more luxuries to attract white collar research and technology workers. Being selected by Google and having high speed fiber capabilities will help give us the edge we need to attract new high paying jobs.

As a resident and/or business owner/manager, you can nominate the City of Middletown to be selected.  Your nomination is important in order to demonstrate community support.  Completing the nomination form will take approximately 5-10 minutes. 

All applications need to be submitted online by March 26. Please access the website below and select “nominate your community”. In order to apply you need to sign in with a valid Google (or Gmail) account.   If you do not have a Google account, when you access the link, please click the link “Create an Account Now. 
http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options:

Google is looking for information as to why you think the City should be selected (please see attached page for suggestions) and is also looking for information on your current internet provider, cost, and capabilities.  You can enter “don't know” for any of the technical questions.  We have already been nominated by one business (Aginova).  The City is submitting an application as well. We are also pleased to report that Butler County is applying to Google for a County-wide district and will be including the Middletown area in their application. Consequently, we have a couple of different ways in which Google can come to Middletown!   

Thank you for your support.  We believe this project will help our businesses and residents and will also provide favorable publicity for Middletown.  The distribution list for this memo is attached; please feel free to ask other businesses/residents to respond.

If you have any questions please contact Denise Hamet, Economic Development Program Manager, at (513) 425-7847 or email at deniseha@cityofmiddletown.org.
Or, you may contact Greg Parsons, Information Systems Manager, at (513) 425-7771, or email at gregp@cityofmiddletown.org

Sincerely,

Judith A. Gilleland
City Manager