Columbiana Port Authority seeks fiber funds

EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio -- Funds needed to finish the last mile of the fiber optic network linking Mahoning and Columbiana counties are hard to come by, but the Columbiana County Port Authority is following two avenues for federal funding.

The port authority is included in applications from OneCommunity, a Cleveland nonprofit organization that deals primarily with health groups, and the Southern Ohio Health Care Network, based in Athens, that seek federal stimulus dollars through the Broadband Technologies Opportunities Program. Should either entity be awarded money, the port authority would be in line to receive funds to help secure the $2.7 million it needs to finish the network, said its CEO, Tracy Drake...