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The Development Authority of Dawson County announced that the North Georgia Network Cooperative (NGN) has been awarded more than $33 million in federal stimulus funds to construct a ultra-high speed fiber optic trunk line network across five counties in northern Georgia. The Development Authority is one of the founding partners of NGN. In addition, the State of Georgia through the OneGeorgia Authority has awarded an addition $2.5 million toward the project. On the local level, the Development Authority of Dawson County has provided a contribution of $100,000 toward the matched funds from the OneGeorgia Authority.

The OneGeorgia Authority provided the initial funding for phase one of the NGN project which resulted in a full feasibility and business plan for the project. The NGN Cooperative submitted for the federal grant through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in its Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). The Development Authority of Dawson County as one of the founding partners of NGN believes that this project will help current businesses and organizations within the county develop new technologies and allow for cost effective expansion of their facilities. The Development Authority believes the presence of a very high capacity fiber trunk line system as proposed will attract new business throughout the partnership region.

"Modern business does not tolerate limited broadband capacity," said Charlie Auvermann executive director of the development authority. "The NGN trunk line will allow us to provide immediate high level broadband to any business that is considering Dawson County as a future location."

The NGN project was initially conceived over two years ago from joint meetings between Auvermann and Bruce Abraham, executive director of the Lumpkin County Development Authority.

"We met to discuss issues that various companies were having and also the future needs of North Georgia College and State University and Southern Catholic College," Auvermann noted. "The project grew from there."

As submitted to the NTIA, the project covers Dawson, Habersham, Lumpkin, Rabun, Towns Union and White Counties. The project will also tie into existing capacity in Forsyth County and tie into systems in Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens and Cherokee Counties.

The service area of the five core collaborative counties is estimated to include over 240 strategic partners, 146 county government facilities, 6 municipal facilities, 82 public schools and 7 colleges and universities along with 4 hospitals'.

With the federal and state funding, the NGN project will commence bid and detailed design work during early 2010.

"The goal of NGN has two key components," Auvermann stated. "First is to allow our existing businesses to utilize the latest technologies available in their respective industries and the second is to attract high technology based firms to our region."

The application process was lead by Abraham and his team in Lumpkin County because of the eligibility requirements place upon the counties by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

Abraham said during a recent organizational meeting of the collaborative, "This has been a two year effort and we all want to get this started and see it through. NGN benefits everyone in the North Georgia region."

By moving to contribute $100,000 toward the grant match, the Development Authority of Dawson County reinforces the importance of NGN to both Dawson County and the five county region.

"One of the real stories here beside the increased Broadband capacity is the fact that the five counties have worked together through thick and thin, and pushed for a true regional solution that will benefit all of us," Auvermann said.

A key element in the NGN structure is the partnership with local Electrical Membership Corporations including Blue Ridge Mountain EMC based in Young Harris, GA and Habersham EMC based in Clarksville GA.

Civitium of Alpharetta Georgia provided NGN project consulting, business plan and system development. '.

Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute of Atlanta GA. also provided business plan consulting.