More than 100 communities have registered for 'America's Best
Communities' competition
Demand drives extension of deadline for applications to March 25,
2015
STAMFORD, Conn. & GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. & ENGLEWOOD, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:FTR), DISH Network
(NASDAQ:DISH) and CoBank announced today that the competition deadline
for the America’s Best Communities contest will be extended to March 25,
2015. Just two months since the launch of the America’s Best Communities
contest, more than 100 communities have registered to compete for the
$10 million of assistance focused on revitalizing rural America. Those
communities — and the hundreds more eligible — will now have additional
time to complete their full and final applications.
The competition, conceived by Frontier and co-sponsored by DISH and
CoBank, is designed to stimulate growth and revitalization in small
cities and towns across 27 states in Frontier’s footprint. America's
Best Communities contest will help address the need for growth by
identifying and investing in innovative ideas small cities and towns can
use to build and sustain their local economies. The winning ideas then
become available as a roadmap for growth for all rural communities
across the U.S. participating in the campaign.
"The enthusiastic response from small towns across rural America
compelled us to reexamine the timeline and to extend the deadline to
give all eligible communities the time needed to form teams and finalize
their plans for the America's Best Communities competition. The response
is truly a credit to the spirit of free enterprise in rural America,"
said Maggie Wilderotter, Chairman and CEO of Frontier Communications.
“The America’s Best Communities contest is a fantastic opportunity to
share how small and rural towns are developing creative solutions for
economic and cultural sustainability,” said DISH CEO and President Joe
Clayton. “At its core, the contest gives voice to the best ways we can
help communities across the country thrive for generations to come.”
“It is truly gratifying to see small and rural communities galvanize in
response to this innovative program,” said Bob Engel, CEO of CoBank.
“This contest is all about unlocking the potential of rural America’s
greatest asset – its people. We applaud those communities that have
registered already, and encourage others to participate.”
America's Best Communities is a multi-stage, two and a half-year contest
that provides $4 million in seed money and other support to assist
communities as they develop growth and revitalization plans. The top
three communities will receive a total of $6 million in prize money.
Municipalities with populations of 9,500 to 80,000 and located within
Frontier's service areas are eligible to apply. Those with populations
under 9,500 are encouraged to join forces and collaborate with adjacent
communities to become eligible.
Once all applications are in, judges will select up to 50 qualified
community applicants to be announced on April 29, 2015, each of which
will be awarded $35,000 to further develop their plans and proposals.
These communities will have six months to refine and submit their final
proposals in November 2015.
Up to 15 semifinalists will be selected in January 2016, and will attend
America's Best Communities summit in the spring of 2016 to present their
proposals. There, eight finalists will be selected and receive an award
of $100,000 each. The prize money awarded to the eight finalists will be
used to implement the communities' proposed plans and bring them to
life, while sharing their stories - and successes - along the way.
The America's Best Communities top three competition winners - those
with the most innovative, effective proposals - will be awarded $3
million, $2 million and $1 million respectively, in grand prizes in
April 2017.
More detailed information on eligibility and how communities can apply
can be found at www.americasbestcommunities.com.
About FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS
Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ:FTR) offers broadband,
voice, video, wireless Internet data access, data security solutions,
bundled offerings, specialized bundles for residential customers, small
businesses and home offices and advanced communications for medium and
large businesses in 28 states. Frontier's approximately 17,000 employees
are based entirely in the United States. More information is available
at www.frontier.com.
About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ:DISH), through its subsidiaries, provides
approximately 14.041 million pay-TV subscribers, as of September 30,
2014, with the highest quality programming and technology with the most
choices at the best value. Subscribers enjoy a high-definition lineup
with more than 200 national HD channels, the most international
channels, and award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corp. is
a Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.
About CoBank
CoBank is a $102 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries
across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing
and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water
and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides
wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit
associations serving farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23
states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System,
a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered
to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture and the nation's
rural economy. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves
customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also
maintains an international representative office in Singapore. For more
information about CoBank, visit www.cobank.com.
Frontier Communications Corporation
Steve Crosby, 916-206-8198
SVP,
Corporate Communications
Steven.Crosby@ftr.com
Source: Frontier Communications Corporation