Latest news with #BackBetter
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenfield: Kinetic Invests $650,000 in Tornado Ravaged Town
Kinetic will add 11 miles of buried fiber to existing network and bring high-speed internet to another 610 homes and businesses Once complete, Greenfield will have 19 miles of buried fiber, covering the majority of town, and 920 fiber-eligible homes and businesses DES MOINES, Iowa, May 19, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One year after a tornado devastated Greenfield, Kinetic, a local residential and business fiber internet service provider; the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, and Iowa state officials gathered today to break ground on the company's latest fiber expansion investment in the town. The commitment to "Build Back Better" included an additional $400,000 of private funding to complete Kinetic's fiber expansion project in Greenfield, bringing high-speed internet to an additional 610 homes and businesses, as well as adding another 60,000 feet (around 11 miles) of buried fiber to its network. Construction has already started, and once completed, Greenfield is expected to have 99,100 feet (around 19 miles) of buried fiber, covering the town, and a total of 920 homes and businesses will have access to critical high-speed internet. "Today's groundbreaking is just another step in Greenfield's comeback story, offering connectivity that is critical in opening up new opportunities in business, education, healthcare—you name it," said state Rep. Ray Sorensen. "Greenfield experienced unimaginable devastation almost one year ago today; it's something this community and all Iowans will carry with us forever. I appreciate Kinetic for their continued partnership after the storm and now as they bring new hope and possibilities to a town most deserving." Kinetic's latest fiber build in Greenfield comes on the heels of a $250,000 rebuild the company completed last fall, replacing its copper-based network infrastructure with 28,500 feet of buried fiber (about 5.4 miles) after it was destroyed by the tornado last May. As a long-standing partner to the Greenfield community, Kinetic technicians and engineers worked quickly to restore critical services after the tornado; they also identified the need to transition to a stronger, more sustainable, buried fiber optic network to better support Greenfieldians' needs. Buried cables in some communities are inherently better protected against the elements than other technologies, reducing the opportunity for loss of service, even in the face of future storms or natural disasters. "This past year we witnessed first-hand the indescribable strength of the Greenfield community. Your commitment to rebuilding is inspiring, and we're thankful to play a small role in helping you come back stronger than ever," said Patrick Brimberry, president of Kinetic's Midwest Operations. "Our investment in Greenfield is about so much more than just faster internet—it's about being a partner to this community through the good and the bad. We were with you after the tragic tornado struck one year ago, and we're still with you today, breaking ground for a brighter future." Kinetic will use its "resi-plow" technology for the build, which will increase efficiency, speed and quality of installation of fiber optic-cables, while minimizing impacts on the environment, the town, and local property. The company has invested $2 million in the technology, which also enables faster repairs and reduces downtime if the fiber is damaged. Kinetic's Greenfield fiber builds are part of a $2 billion multiyear investment strategy to dramatically expand its multi-gigabit fiber service across its 18-state footprint. For more information about Kinetic's high-speed multi-gig fiber internet, and future projects, visit ### About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers reliable fiber-based broadband to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses in 18 states. The company's quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services backed by robust security and friendly customer success experts. Kinetic is focused on expanding its fiber network and bridging the digital divide to deliver modern solutions to customers in underserved areas. Additional information about Kinetic is available via our customer portal at or The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises, government entities and educational institutions across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is privately held and headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Category: Kinetic View source version on Contacts Media Contact Megan Krtek Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Greenfield: Kinetic Invests $650,000 in Tornado Ravaged Town
DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--One year after a tornado devastated Greenfield, Kinetic, a local residential and business fiber internet service provider; the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, and Iowa state officials gathered today to break ground on the company's latest fiber expansion investment in the town. The commitment to 'Build Back Better' included an additional $400,000 of private funding to complete Kinetic's fiber expansion project in Greenfield, bringing high-speed internet to an additional 610 homes and businesses, as well as adding another 60,000 feet (around 11 miles) of buried fiber to its network. Construction has already started, and once completed, Greenfield is expected to have 99,100 feet (around 19 miles) of buried fiber, covering the town, and a total of 920 homes and businesses will have access to critical high-speed internet. 'Today's groundbreaking is just another step in Greenfield's comeback story, offering connectivity that is critical in opening up new opportunities in business, education, healthcare—you name it,' said state Rep. Ray Sorensen. 'Greenfield experienced unimaginable devastation almost one year ago today; it's something this community and all Iowans will carry with us forever. I appreciate Kinetic for their continued partnership after the storm and now as they bring new hope and possibilities to a town most deserving.' Kinetic's latest fiber build in Greenfield comes on the heels of a $250,000 rebuild the company completed last fall, replacing its copper-based network infrastructure with 28,500 feet of buried fiber (about 5.4 miles) after it was destroyed by the tornado last May. As a long-standing partner to the Greenfield community, Kinetic technicians and engineers worked quickly to restore critical services after the tornado; they also identified the need to transition to a stronger, more sustainable, buried fiber optic network to better support Greenfieldians' needs. Buried cables in some communities are inherently better protected against the elements than other technologies, reducing the opportunity for loss of service, even in the face of future storms or natural disasters. 'This past year we witnessed first-hand the indescribable strength of the Greenfield community. Your commitment to rebuilding is inspiring, and we're thankful to play a small role in helping you come back stronger than ever,' said Patrick Brimberry, president of Kinetic's Midwest Operations. 'Our investment in Greenfield is about so much more than just faster internet—it's about being a partner to this community through the good and the bad. We were with you after the tragic tornado struck one year ago, and we're still with you today, breaking ground for a brighter future.' Kinetic will use its 'resi-plow' technology for the build, which will increase efficiency, speed and quality of installation of fiber optic-cables, while minimizing impacts on the environment, the town, and local property. The company has invested $2 million in the technology, which also enables faster repairs and reduces downtime if the fiber is damaged. Kinetic's Greenfield fiber builds are part of a $2 billion multiyear investment strategy to dramatically expand its multi-gigabit fiber service across its 18-state footprint. For more information about Kinetic's high-speed multi-gig fiber internet, and future projects, visit ### About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers reliable fiber-based broadband to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses in 18 states. The company's quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services backed by robust security and friendly customer success experts. Kinetic is focused on expanding its fiber network and bridging the digital divide to deliver modern solutions to customers in underserved areas. Additional information about Kinetic is available via our customer portal at or The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises, government entities and educational institutions across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is privately held and headquartered in Little Rock, Ark.
Technical.ly
14-05-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
A Pittsburgh community college leans into ‘mechatronics' to upskill for debt-free careers
A federally funded mechatronics lab in Pittsburgh is helping students land tech jobs quickly without taking on student debt. In Pittsburgh's shifting landscape, regional manufacturers say demand for skilled workers in the field is growing fast, but companies are struggling to fill roles, according to Justin Starr, an endowed professor of advanced technology at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC). His program aims to change that by preparing students with the skills needed to step into modern manufacturing careers, without putting them thousands of dollars in the hole. 'The story that sometimes gets lost is that manufacturing is different than it used to be,' Starr told CCAC launched a new lab for mechatronics, which is the study of mechanical, electrical and computer systems used to operate and automate modern manufacturing machines, in 2023. Backed by $1.8 million from the federal Build Back Better (BBB) Regional Challenge grant, the space is outfitted with cutting-edge robotics equipment commonly used in today's manufacturing facilities. Mechatronics students at CCAC have a graduation and job placement rate of over 90%, according to Starr, and students are walking away without debt because of the program's low cost, something that's increasingly uncommon in today's education system. 'What we do is teach students to be able to effectively operate advanced manufacturing lines so they can go out there and be the people who are building the equipment of today and tomorrow,' Starr said. Christofer Main, 21, is one of them. As a plastic extrusion technician at VEKA, a window systems manufacturer in Beaver County, Main is completing a two-year apprenticeship that allows him to work and earn a salary while studying at CCAC. Main said the program was a clear choice, especially now, when he has a baby on the way. 'With college, my wife, for example, she's $40,000 in debt,' Main said. 'I don't have $40,000 just laying around. Monthly payments are crazy. This way, I still get paid to come to school and I don't have to worry about that debt.' Fast, reliable access to a skillset that pays The program's associate degree graduation rates have fallen in recent years, but Starr said that's actually a sign of success. Students are getting the skills they need to be productive with employers after just one semester or one year. '[Students] will go get a job, and they might not stick around for a full two years,' Starr said, 'because they're making $35 an hour and they're 18 years old.' Ethan Miller, 18, another VEKA apprentice studying at CCAC, is currently making around $40,000, plus free schooling, straight out of high school. 'You can't go to college and get paid for it unless you're a football player,' Miller said. 'I can get paid to go to school, and school is free, no debt. That beats college.' For some, CCAC's program is also a path to stability in a new country. Nahid Khajazada came to Pittsburgh in 2021 after the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan. She's currently living in the city alone while her family remains overseas. After a year in CCAC's mechatronics program, she landed an internship with local startup RealBotics. Khajazada said she hopes to transfer to a four-year university and eventually start her own company. 'Here, I've learned a lot of things,' she said. 'I'm more confident with how to work with this kind of stuff.' 'Mechatronics' over 'advanced manufacturing' hooks more people Funding for CCAC's mechatronics lab comes from the New Economy Collaborative (NEC) of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which is administering $62.7 million of the BBB Regional Challenge grant. That $62.7 million is part of a broader $1 billion BBB initiative, launched in 2021 through the American Rescue Plan to spur post-pandemic economic recovery and revitalize communities impacted by decades of industrial decline. The NEC is deploying the funds through five projects across 11 counties in the region, including Pittsburgh. CCAC's mechatronics lab is part of Project Three, which focuses on upskilling workers and expanding career pathways into sectors like advanced manufacturing, a major industry in the Pittsburgh region that's driving real economic mobility, Starr said. There are over 90,000 people employed by over 2,800 manufacturing companies in the Pittsburgh region, according to data from the nonprofit organization Pittsburgh Regional Alliance. However, stigma around manufacturing remains, according to Starr. 'We have a lot of students whose parents maybe did manufacturing in the 70s and 80s, and they think it's dirty,' Starr said. 'They think it's a field where their son or daughter could get laid off if they go into it.' To get around this, CCAC uses the term mechatronics to convey that the skills it's teaching are high tech and part of the advanced manufacturing industry. The field blends traditional manufacturing skills, like wiring and mechanical drives, with advanced technologies such as programmable controllers and collaborative robots. 'Technology changes constantly,' Starr said, 'and if we're going to fill a need in the region, we need to train our students to use the equipment that either industry is using today, or that industry is going to be using tomorrow.'
San Francisco Chronicle
13-05-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Biden slogan costs San Ramon $120,000
The city of San Ramon has paid $120,000 to settle a suit by an activist who was criminally prosecuted in 2021 after projecting the words Build Back Better, President Joe Biden's label for his proposed economic and environmental legislation, onto the wall of City Hall. Alan Marling of Livermore was held by San Ramon police after refusing their order to take down his message. After a brief detention, he was charged with creating a public nuisance by posting a sign on city property and with obstruction of a public right-of-way. Superior Court Commissioner Jill Lifter acquitted him of both charges after a non-jury trial, saying his message was not a sign and did not block the sidewalk. Marling's civil suit accused San Ramon of violating his constitutional rights by illegally arresting him and threatening to confiscate his light projector. The city did not concede any violations in the settlement but has paid him $120,000, which includes his legal expenses in the case, attorney Donald Wagda said Monday. His actions 'did not break any law then in effect, and he never should have been criminally prosecuted for his speech,' Wagda said. For a short time on an evening in November 2021, before being halted by police, he shined #BuildBackBetter on the front wall of City Hall, above a stream of the legislation's goals: 'Affordable care, child meds, paid leave, green energy.' Marling said he wasn't trying to send a message to the city of San Ramon, which was not involved in the federal legislation, but only to use the wall, widely visible from the street, to urge the public to support Biden's plan. The settlement is 'as much of an apology as I'm going to get for infringing my freedom of speech, hopefully discouraging them from taking similar actions in the future,' he said. San Ramon City Attorney Martin Lyons said the city disagreed with Commissioner Lifter's ruling that Marling committed no violations but has reworded its ordinances to make them clearer. San Ramon agreed to the settlement after considering the costs of litigation and "the best interests of the City and its constituents," Lyons said. Build Back Better was a legislative package that included increases in health care programs for the poor and elderly, COVID-19 treatment, roads and bridges, and climate-related measures such as funding for electric vehicles and tax credits for clean energy production. Parts of it were approved by Congress, including COVID and electric-vehicle provisions, while others were blocked by Republicans and conservative Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Marling's other projections have included a flashing of 'lawless oligarch' onto the San Francisco headquarters of Elon Musk's X Corp., which Musk has since moved to Texas.
Technical.ly
14-03-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
Southwest PA students are upskilling for automation with a federally-backed program — and it's seeking instructors
A new local training program is offering job seekers a free opportunity to develop in-demand skills in an increasingly automated industry. Launched earlier this month, Butler County Community College's (BC3) Industrial Equipment Technician program trains students on how to use equipment that goes hand-in-hand with the increased automation of manufacturing processes. Classes are already full through September, but the program is looking for additional instructors to train those who join the waitlist, the coordinator of professional education and certificate programs at BC3, Kate Buza, told 'Since we've had such a great response to it,' Buza said, 'now we are looking to find another instructor so we don't have to wait all the way until September to offer it again.' The program was designed specifically for job seekers and to upskill current workers by offering hands-on training in equipment diagnostics, troubleshooting, safety and maintenance in several key areas: AC/DE electrical systems Hydraulics and pneumatics Industrial electrical wiring Programmable logic controllers $850k in funding and other partnerships crucial to programming This year is the first year a program like this has been offered at BC3, Buza said, and it's thanks to $850,000 from the Build Back Better (BBB) Regional Challenge Grant, a $62.7 million investment in Southwestern Pennsylvania's economic development. The nonprofit New Economy Collaborative (NEC) is tasked with distributing the BBB funding across five distinct projects, all focused on adoption, upskilling infrastructure and commercialization in the robotics sector. BC3's new training program falls under Project 3, which aims to expand pathways to new careers and is the upskilling element of NEC's efforts to support economic development in the region. BC3 also tapped an advisory board of local manufacturers to help design the program, Buza said. 'Our advisory board talked about the need for more automation,' Buza said, 'and finding workers who have skills, at least on a basic level, of electrical work, working with programmable logic controllers and motor control.'
