City and state leaders in Cleveland have announced a series of sizable investments into a major project that will expand broadband to residents across the city, which is expected to break ground later this month.

The project, which has an estimated cost of $53 million, will be partly funded by a $10 million grant from BroadbandOhio, which is part of the Ohio Department of Development, a Jan. 9 announcement from the department stated.

In addition, the department’s announcement said the city of Cleveland has committed to providing $20 million to fund the project, with additional contributions from organizations like the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Supporting Foundation and the David and Inez Myers Foundation.

DigitalC, the city’s choice for internet connectivity, will spearhead the expansion project, which BroadbandOhio said will result in all of Cleveland’s 170,000 households having access to low-cost broadband by the middle of 2025.

Access to the network will be locked in at $18 per month for at least a decade, with changes due to inflation being allowed after the fifth year, according to BroadbandOhio.

Joshua Edmonds, the CEO of Digital C, called the news a landmark investment in comments provided with BroadbandOhio’s release.

“We are deeply appreciative of this transformative grant from BroadbandOhio; this support, in conjunction with trailblazing contributions from a coalition of public, private, and philanthropic partners, will propel this state-of-the-art citywide network forward and ensure an equitable digital future for our city,” Edmonds said.

Founded in 2015, DigitalC completed their first pilot project several years later in 2018. Since the pilot project, which provided devices and internet access to 500-plus Cleveland households, DigitalC has connected more than 2,000 households, including the homes of more than 900 Cleveland Metropolitan School District students, according to BroadbandOhio.

There are almost 30,000 households in Cleveland without any type of broadband, according to Digital C’s website, which represents around 17 percent of the city’s population.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined Edmonds for the announcement.

“In a world where the internet has become nearly as essential as electricity, we know how important it is that our citizens are connected,” said DeWine. “We are committed to closing the digital divide in Ohio – not just in rural parts of the state, but also right here in urban centers like Cleveland where affordability can be more of an obstacle than access.”

Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb was also on hand and offered comments with the governor.

“It doesn’t matter what neighborhood you are in or how much money you make – if you live in Cleveland, you will be able to use this necessary utility for only $18 per month,” he said. “That’s $216 per year – a perfect fit synonymous to the area code of Clevelanders.”