SHELTON, WA 98584
Ext. 5882
Mason PUD News
PUD 3 Fiber Network - Economic Development Rides Light Waves on Lynch Road
Andy Hunter, owner of Lynch Creek Farm prepares a pine and cedar wreath for a lucky customer
A recently completed public/private broadband service project in the Lynch Road area south of Shelton is expected to result in the retention of nearly 66 local jobs and lead to the creation of 15 jobs or more. The cooperative project involved investment from local businesses, the Mason County Commission, support from the Economic Development Council of Mason County (EDC) and Mason County PUD No. 3’s telecommunications department.
As one of the eleven businesses to benefit from the project, Lynch Creek Farm touted the absolute necessity of high speed internet and data services that the PUD 3 fiber network now provides to the area. “We now have the fastest internet connections available just about anywhere in the US,” said Andy Hunter, Lynch Creek Farm owner. “Customer orders, product processing and shipping will now take a fraction of the time. Our customers will have real time information on their order process and tracking that was impossible before. Our fiber connection also increases the flexibility of our phone system.” (See the full list of businesses at the end of the news release.)
“Need for Speed” Sparks Business Efforts
Businesses along Lynch Road south of Shelton were in a quandary. As they were growing or seeking to relocate staff to the Taylor Towne area, they were running up against a digital wall: dial-up internet was problematic; their marginally faster digital service from a telephone company was being dropped; or they were forced to consider long-term, expensive internet satellite contracts.
Enter the EDC, PUD 3, the Mason County Commission and local internet service providers. With a project cost of $272,000, a cooperative funding package was needed to make the extension of the PUD fiber optic network to businesses in the area a reality. The PUD and business owners committed $128,000 to the project. The utility’s investment would provide a necessary broadband connection to monitor electrical equipment in the area.
Mason County Commissioners voted to complete the broadband funding package by allocating $144,000 from a dedicated economic development fund which can only be used for the development of public infrastructure or certain economic development efforts that retain or lead to the creation of new jobs. This account is funded by a portion of the state sales tax. To be eligible, the projects must be included in the county-adopted community economic development strategy.
“The fund from which the county contribution to this project was allocated can only be used for public infrastructure or programs like this,” stated Mason County Commissioner Ross Gallagher, in whose district the broadband endeavor took place. “The investment will have no impact on the county’s current expense budget and, in fact, will provide a benefit to the county through the retention and creation of local jobs.”
The financial investment of the local businesses and the use of a dedicated county economic development fund completed the elements necessary for the project to move ahead. The end users worked with local internet service providers to make the final broadband hookup to the Mason County PUD No. 3 fiber network.
“I can’t say enough about the perseverance of the businesses that worked so hard on this effort,” said Dale Knutson, PUD 3 Telecommunications Manager. “Since this was focused primarily on the interested businesses, they will see the first benefits. However, because of the cooperative work we have done, homeowners in the project area will soon have the opportunity to work with local internet service providers to obtain extremely fast internet and data services over the PUD network.”
Walter Dacon Winery Toasts its new fiber optic connection
Local Businesses Participating in the Lynch Road Project
- Bennett & Son Painting Company, Inc. (Construction/Painting)
- Bob Kimbel, Inc. (Excavating)
- Coleman Clams (Aquaculture)
- Frank & Patty Hughes
- Helene Coleman Massage Therapy (Therapy)
- Jim Penney (Volunteer/Community Affairs)
- JJ Brenner Oyster Company (Aquaculture)
- Little Skookum Shellfish Growers (Aquaculture)
- Lynch Creek Farm (Retail/Evergreens
- Walter Dacon Winery (Winery)
- Wes Wasson, Christmas Trees (Agriculture)
