$200,000 Google grant to fund Wi-Fi zone in downtown Pryor
BY RHETT MORGAN World Staff Writer
Saturday, January 19, 2013
1/19/13 at 7:54 AM
PRYOR - A $200,000 grant from Google will enable the city to create a free wireless network in the downtown area, the Internet giant announced Friday.
The effort, expected to serve about a 13-block area, is the first free high-speed wireless Internet initiative in Mayes County.
Google Inc. operates a data center in the Mid-America Industrial Park near Pryor.
"I think this is huge for us," Mayor Jimmy Tramel said. "It's a great opportunity."
Construction on the infrastructure needed to power the network is scheduled to begin next month, and it's expected to be completed this year.
The grant will fund operation and maintenance of the service for the city for three years.
Techsico, a Tulsa-based company, will install and maintain the network.
"We believe providing Internet access in our city will help our businesses grow and prosper," Tramel said in a statement.
"Since arriving in Mayes County, Google has been instrumental in helping our community thrive in the digital world through education and technology grants. We are continually glad they chose to land in Pryor."
Tramel hopes to expand the Wi-Fi network to reach the entire city during the next five years.
"At Google, we know how important Internet access is to economic growth," Mike Wooten, operations manager for the Google Oklahoma data center, said in a news release. "This investment will have an impact on the community by helping businesses tap into the growing pool of online consumers and business opportunities."
Google activated its data center at its 800-acre campus at the Mid-America Industrial Park in December 2011.
In April, the Mountain View, Calif.-based company announced plans to expand the operation.
Google's investment of about $700 million is among the biggest commercial build-outs in the state's history, according to Dave Lopez, Oklahoma's secretary of commerce and tourism.
"Big things are happening in Pryor that make it a desirable place to live, work and play," said Barbara Hawkins, president of the Pryor Chamber of Commerce. "Google has played a major role in energizing our city."
Original Print Headline: Google grant to fund Wi-Fi zone in Pryor
Rhett Morgan 918-581-8395
rhett.morgan@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Workers move among rows of pipes filling the mechanical plant at the Google Inc. data center in Pryor. MATT BARNARD/Tulsa World
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