Vermilion Advantage is presenting a public meeting at Danville Area Community College, Bremer Theater, Danville Illinois, at 9:00 AM on April 24 to discuss the Broadband Breakthrough Program. This program is designed to attract and obtain grant funding for reliable, speedy, affordable internet connections throughout the county.

Bill Coleman of the Benton Institute one of the central figures in the Breakthrough program will be present to answer questions and explain more about how the program benefits the county. The Breakthrough Program is sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension and Benton Institute and funded by entities such as the Soybean Association.

Mike Marron at Vermilion Advantage says quality internet is a must for our local economy to grow. It supports businesses as diverse as family farms to small town businesses like a newspaper. It is also critical for quality of life from education to entertainment to telemedicine opportunities. While many take being connected to the world for granted, it is not a tool every home and business has in the rural area of the county and even in some populous cities and villages. This program can be a game changer and real dollars are available when we partner with providers to find ways to meet the needs of our

community. Join us to hear the facts and some success stories to illustrate the potential we have if we put our minds to it!