WEST BRANCH – The Public Service Commission on Tuesday commended Ogemaw County for becoming the ninth community in Michigan to be certified as a “connected” community that has developed a broadband and technology plan to expand broadband access, adoption and use.

It joins Charlevoix, Antrim, St. Clair, Roscommon, Livingston, Mecosta, Clare and Otsego counties in earning the distinction of a “connected” community.

Ogemaw County’s broadband action plan has identified four priority projects: completing a vertical assets inventory; creating local jobs via teleworking opportunities; hosting website and social media classes for local businesses; and developing a program supporting schools in new technology initiatives, the PSC said in a statement. The new plan will give the community step-by-step action items to accomplish the objectives.

“Ogemaw County joins an elite group of Michigan communities that have completed the broadband certification process,” PSC Chair John Quackenbush said. “These communities understand that their success includes access to reliable high-speech networks, digital literacy of residents and the use of online resources locally for business, agriculture, government, and leisure.”

Other Michigan communities are working with Connect Michigan toward the ConnectedSM certification, including the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission; the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission; and the counties of Alcona, Barry, Crawford, Delta, Gladwin, Marquette, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, Oscoda, Washtenaw, and Wexford. Several others have formed teams or have indicated interest, the PSC said.

PSC ISSUES RFP ON ENERGY ASSISTANCE GRANT: The PSC, in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, has released a Request for Proposals for two year Michigan Energy Assistance Program grants.

The RFP offers a two year grant program and makes available between $60 and $90 million for year one of the grants. It is anticipated that year two of the grants will be funded at a level consistent with year one, the PSC said in a statement Tuesday.

Year one of the grants will be funded by $50 million collected through a low-income energy assistance funding factor approved by the commission, and between $10 million and $40 million in the Low-Income Home energy Assistance Program funds provided by DHS.

The purpose of these grants is to provide energy assistance programs that will help low-income households meet home energy costs, and provide services that will enable participants to become or move toward becoming self-sufficient.

The deadline for the proposals is 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, and the RFP is located at Click on Michigan.Gov/MPSC

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