Construction begins in August on building renovations required to adjust to the rapid expansion of our fiber internet service, ecoLINK.

When East Central Electric first began construction on our fiber project in 2019, the expected completion date was 2025.

“With the pandemic, the public interest level in fiber went through the roof,” said ECE General Manager Tim Smith. “We ramped up construction to meet our members’ needs, and we are now scheduled to be complete by 2023.”

The acceleration in the project timeline has put a strain on our available space for employees and warehousing.

“We are currently renting space, and that cost will be eliminated with this expansion,” said ECE’s Director of Broadband Operations Jeremy Hendrickson.

The $9.5 million building renovation project will both add space, and repurpose existing space, to maximize the benefit to our members and ecoLINK customers.

The cost of this project for our members will be minimal at first and will shrink over time as the cost is offset by the ever-increasing customer base and expected growth in ecoLINK revenue.

Building renovations will be complete, and we will move in, by August 2022.

“The purpose of this expansion is all about serving our members to the best of our ability,” Hendrickson said.