PANGAEA Internet Stimulating Economic Development in NC Foothills

August 29, 2011 – Tryon, NC
Contacts: PANGAEA Internet: Ron Walters (828-859-3072 or 828-395-1155)

PANGAEA Internet Stimulating Economic Development in NC Foothills
Contact: Ron Walters – 828-859-3072

TRYON, NC / August 29, 2011 – Businesses, schools, health care facilities, non-profits and local governments throughout Polk and Rutherford Counties are taking advantage of the “speed of light” internet service offered by PANGAEA Internet to power their organizations to new heights.

As a non-profit service provider, PANGAEA Internet can focus on community needs, rather than the desires of shareholders. Economic development continues to be one of the most critical community needs, and by extending high-speed fiber optic internet service into the area, PANGAEA Internet is energizing the local economy.

A prime example of these efforts is the Mill Spring Agricultural Development Center (MSAC). Formerly an abandoned school building, the MSAC was launched in early 2010 as a resource for education, community service, and agricultural & business development. Since then, sixteen businesses have opened offices at the MSAC. “The availability of PANGAEA fiber-optic internet service has been the main reason for quite a few people moving into the center,” according to Lynn Sprague, MSAC Director. “If we had not had this type of bandwidth available, we would probably not have several of our current tenants.”

Among those tenants is Turner HD Media, a multimedia services company. Turner HD Media works with high definition video and graphics, and collaborates with designers and artists all over the world using PANGAEA Internet’s fiber-optic service. “Files which used to take literally hours to transfer can now be done in just a few minutes,” says Lynn Turner. “The ability to access this type of internet speed has had an amazing impact on our business.”

In September, a public access computer center will open at the MSAC, providing free high-speed access during the center’s operating hours. Grant funding obtained by PANGAEA Internet will provide computers and software for the center. “It’s safe to say that the MSAC is making a significant impact in the Mill Spring community and beyond,” says Ron Walters, PANGAEA Internet Executive Director. “We’re pleased to be affiliated with this important economic development engine.”

PANGAEA Internet (pan-GEE-ah) is a non-profit provider of high-speed fiber optic internet service, currently serving more than 70 customers at over 100 locations across Polk and Rutherford Counties, including public school districts, city and county governments, health care facilities, and local businesses. Visit us online at www.pangaea.us, or contact Executive Director Ron Walters at 828-859-3072.