Antietam Broadband Launches Innovation Fund
$1 Million to Benefit Local Entrepreneurs
August 25, 2022. Hagerstown MD Antietam Broadband, in partnership with their parent company, Schurz Communications, is proud to announce the launch of the Antietam Broadband Innovation Fund in Washington County, MD. This Fund will provide investment dollars to local entrepreneur’s startup and growth companies to support, sustain and grow businesses in the county.
Applicant’s business should be focused on technology, innovation, or businesses with a technology angle that can take advantage of broadband technology. Examples of these businesses could be digital media, artificial intelligence, cyber security, gaming etc. to create/retain well-paying jobs in the ecosystem in Washington County.
The Fund will provide $250,000 per year of local investment for four years. An Investment Committee led by Antietam and Schurz will include local business leaders in Washington County. The committee will review applications and make the investments. The Investment Committee will:
- Develop specific investment criteria based on viability, potential, growth and return characteristics that would create jobs in Washington County and benefit the most from local expertise and the Antietam infrastructure.
- Special consideration will be given to women, people of color, people with disabilities and members of other minority groups who have met basic investment criteria.
- The Investment Committee will make public, at least annually, a report on all firms that receive Innovation Fund investments and the local community impact.
Schurz Communications funded the first trial of the Innovation Fund in Burlington, VT in 2019. Since then, there has been great local interest in the Fund with the development of multiple successful businesses, positive community support for the fund, and significant community impact.
“The launch of this Innovation Fund underscores our belief that Washington County is a wonderful place to work, live and build a business,” said Brian Lynch, President of Antietam Broadband. “We are incredibly pleased that Schurz has selected us to be the second rollout of the Innovation Fund. With this, their 150th anniversary since their start in Indiana, we can think of no better way to honor our parent company than to further invest in the communities we serve. This is a great chance for local entrepreneurs to enjoy the same opportunity our company enjoyed so many years ago,” said Lynch.
About Antietam Broadband:
Antietam Broadband was founded in 1966 and was purchased by Schurz Communications, Inc. in 1968. It is a full-service telecommunications company offering a complete range of residential and business-class technology solutions including digital television, high-speed Internet and digital phone services in Washington County, MD. Antietam introduced Flight Gigabit Internet service in 2016 and made Hagerstown the 75th gigabit city in the USA. The company is focused on enhancing the lives of its customers by providing the latest telecommunication services and maintaining the highest standards of excellence in customer care and world class technical service.
About Schurz Communications, Inc., is a Mishawaka, IN-based news and information company that consists of cable and digital media. It also owns broadband companies and phone directories. Geographically, Schurz Communications has a presence in Arizona, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.