Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) is a non-profit regional broadband project that receives funding under the New Building Canada Fund -- Small Communities Fund (NBCF-SCF), a joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding program, with additional funding from municipal partners and private sector investors. SWIFT has recently awarded funding to expand broadband services across Grey and Bruce Counties!
Bruce County will receive $16.3 million in broadband upgrades. More than 5,200 households and businesses will see improvements in broadband internet services throughout the municipalities of Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Northern Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce and within the Township of Huron-Kinloss and the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. High-speed fibre-optic broadband services will also expand to more than 300 households in Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation.
The following completion dates for improved broadband services are expected:
· Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, and South Bruce Peninsula to be available by late-2021.
· South Bruce is expected to be completed by late-2022
· Underserved roads in the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation community by late-2022.
· Municipality of South Bruce connectivity to be available by early-2022.
· The municipality of South Bruce and within the Township of Huron-Kinloss by early-2022.
Construction is expected to begin in Bruce County by early 2021. In total SWIFT will improve broadband service to roughly 13,000 residents over 23 communities by 2022.
Grey County will see improvements in broadband internet services in the municipalities of Meaford and West Grey and throughout the Townships of Chatsworth, Georgian Bluffs and Southgate. In total Grey County will receive $16.9 million in broadband upgrades.
The following completion dates for improved broadband services are expected:
· West Grey and the Township of Southgate by mid-2021.
· The municipalities of Meaford, West Grey and the Townships of Chatsworth and Georgian Bluffs by mid-2022.
· The municipality of West Grey by mid-2022.
· The Municipality of Meaford by late-2022.
The newly announced projects will provide high-speed internet services to approximately 9,750 residents across 25 communities in Grey County by 2022.
For additional details please see the SWIFT website.