Members of Midco and the City of Janesville gathered on April 16 for a groundbreaking ceremony. With shovels in hand, they broke ground for a new line of fiber-optic cable.
Underlining a commitment to both technological advancement and community welfare, Midco officially broke ground on its new fiber-optic network in Janesville. The ceremony, held at 2:00 p.m. on April 16, marked a significant milestone for the city’s economic development and included a surprise $2,500 donation to the Janesville Community Food Shelf.
The event signals Midco’s entry into a market previously served by Consolidated and Frontier. By bringing fast, high-quality fiber internet to the area, Midco aims to bridge the digital divide for residents and the vital agricultural sector that serves as the region’s economic backbone.
“Janesville has been an area of interest for us for a few years, with formal discussions beginning in the summer of 2025,” said Senior Director of Governmental Relations Andrew Curley. “This is a great investment for the people of Janesville. We are excited to start laying fiber this coming Monday, providing the infrastructure for a new era of service at no charge to the residents for the installation.”
Local leaders from the Janesville EDA, Chamber of Commerce, and City Council joined Midco officials to celebrate the partnership. Ivan Maas, representing the Janesville City Council, spoke warmly of the town’s collaborative spirit. In a moment that lightened the mood, Maas even utilized a spot-on German accent while recounting Janesville’s history—noting how the town secured electricity long before surrounding rural communities, a feat he hopes to replicate with high-speed internet access.
“This community likes to work together,” Maas noted. “We are happy Midco is doing this work to better Janesville. It’s about leaving the experts to the task of moving us forward.”
Waseca County Commissioners also voiced their support, highlighting how the partnership will foster economic opportunity and provide farmers with the technological tools necessary for modern agriculture.
The highlight of the afternoon for many was the surprise presentation of a $2,500 check to the Janesville Community Food Shelf. Rhonda Erickson, Executive Director of the Midco Foundation, presented the grant to Kay Gottschalk of the food shelf. The Midco Foundation, which provides grants to nonprofits across its service areas, reached out to the food bank specifically to support their ongoing mission to combat food insecurity in the region. “Our foundation is inspired by the impact of local organizations like the Food Shelf,” Erickson said. “We wanted to ensure that as we grow our footprint in Janesville, we are also supporting the heartbeat of the community.”
With the colored shovels officially having turned the earth, construction is set to begin immediately on Midco’s fiber optic. Residents can expect to see crews starting work on Monday as the company begins the process of installing the fiber network that promises to bring Janesville into the next generation of connectivity.
In a suprising twist, the Midco Foundation gifted a 2500 dollar check to the Janesville Food Shelf.
