Hello, my name is Oscar Busch, and I am a student at Hays High School. I am involved in the JAG-K program, which stands for Jobs for America’s Graduates. In Jag-K, we engage with the community and employers, provide community service, and gain new experiences so we are ready to enter the workforce.
In the cold winter of 2023, our team received some heartwarming news from the state. The announcement was made that Nex-Tech would receive a Capital Project Fund (CPF) grant to extend its fiber network to the people of rural Decatur County. Nex-Tech would also co-invest over $900,000 to match the grant.
From Norton to Hays, Salina to Hill City, Hoxie to Russell, Phillipsburg to Great Bend, and many other towns across northwest and central Kansas, Nex-Tech continues to power healthcare and directly support the provision of health-related services for tens of thousands of people.
But why and how do we do this? Read further for details.
At the heart of the plains of Kansas, where the horizon on every side is dotted with farms and ranches and the sunsets are a beauty to behold, you’ll find the city of Goessel, KS. Nex-Tech has connected dozens of families and businesses in Goessel to the rest of the world, powered by our gigabit-speed fiber optic network.
Norton, KS – August 26, 2025 – Governor Laura Kelly has announced $10.4 million in grants through the Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT) program, expanding high-speed public Wi-Fi and device access across the state. Among the 18 funded projects is a Nex-Tech partnership with the Norton community to bring free, reliable Wi-Fi to Elmwood Park, a central hub for events, sports, and recreation.
As part of my internship with Nex-Tech this summer, I’ve had the opportunity to explore the company’s rich history, its innovative present, and its forward-looking vision.
The cities of Norton and Oberlin are tight-knit and vibrant communities located in Norton County and Decatur County, Kansas. Nex-Tech is proud to have served Norton for many decades and to have recently added Oberlin to our service area!
On Thursday, July 10, 2025, our community economic development team was at the office of the United Way of Central Kansas (UWCK) in Great Bend. We were there to present a Certificate of Membership to the Executive Director, Charell Owings, following the successful hosting of a Nex-Tech Academy Session at Hoisington Middle School in February 2025.
The Universal Service Fund (USF) is a system of telecommunications fees managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to ensure affordable and widespread access to telecommunications services. In simple terms, the FCC collects financial contributions from telecommunications companies, like Nex-Tech, and uses those funds to support and expand access to telecommunications services throughout the United States.
In rural communities, a little support can make a big difference. Just ask the team at the Lenora Public Library. In November of 2024, the library received a $5,000 grant from the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) Community Grant Program. With those funds, they upgraded their computer systems and significantly improved access to digital resources for their patrons.