LENORA, Kan., November 30, 2023 – On Wednesday, November 29, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced that Nex-Tech was awarded $1,434,960 out of the $28.5 million Lasting Infrastructure and Network Connectivity (LINC) program. 

The LINC program provides strategic funding for crucial aspects of broadband connectivity to reduce the cost of Internet service, increase availability, and improve performance. The LINC program provides funding for the expansion of broadband. Investment in the infrastructure will bring much-needed access to high-speed, reliable Internet to homes, businesses, healthcare facilities, and other public institutions in rural and underserved areas for the first time. The funds from the LINC awards will allow Nex-Tech, a Lenora-based technology company, to build the necessary infrastructure required to reach the unserved communities of Herndon and Clayton, Kansas.  

Nex-Tech was awarded $886,160 for Herndon, with Nex-Tech funding an additional $336,840, bringing the total project cost to $1,203,000. In Norton County, Nex-Tech will fund an additional $137,200 to the awarded $548,800, bringing the total project to $686,000 to bring fiber broadband services to the rural community of Clayton.  

“We are thrilled to have received this grant funding to provide fiber connectivity to our neighbors in Clayton and Herndon,” stated Jimmy Todd, CEO and General Manager of Nex-Tech.  “We want to thank the many individuals, businesses, and community members for their support of these projects and for their help throughout the grant process. Their participation on calls with the Office of Broadband Development and letters of support aided tremendously in these success of our applications” continued Todd. 

Kelsey Wahrman, City Clerk of Herndon, commented on the grant award saying, “On behalf of our citizens and businesses of Herndon, the City is thrilled at the opportunities this will bring our community! Thank you for investing in our future!” 

The targeted communities have as few as 9.8 locations per square mile, which until now has prevented providers from investing the resources needed to deliver a quality broadband option. The LINC program provides the funding needed to implement high-speed broadband in these areas of the state.   

About Nex-Tech

Nex-Tech connects thousands of people and businesses through a robust broadband network. Nex-Tech’s powerful fiber-to-the-premise technology delivers leading-edge enterprise solutions to clients nationwide including cloud services, servers, security, phone systems, hosted PBX, managed IT, advertising solutions, and network operations monitoring. Nex-Tech employees are customer-focused on providing the most effective technology solutions with unsurpassed user- friendly support. Headquartered in Lenora, Kansas, Nex-Tech has been delivering exceptional service for 70 years.