Last month, without any advance notice, I found myself wandering through downtown Oberlin , checking out random stores, shops, companies, nonprofits, and local government offices. The information I gathered was nothing new in terms of facts. What was new was the experience; the people I listened to, the joys and pains I empathized with, the reality of life that my heart acknowledged, the perspective I was immersed in and made to see from, the sense of community I experienced, and the understanding that this mission is more than worth it.
The work of making our rural communities better is worth it. Whether you're a company making investments, an agency stimulating economic growth, a nonprofit serving the community, a legislator trying to make a difference, or a community worker bringing things together, it will take all of us playing our part to continue to uplift our communities. So, I encourage you today: stay with it, keep at it. Sometimes you'll succeed, and sometimes you might not. In the end, the measure of your contribution is that you gave your best to improving the community you found yourself in.
In this newsletter, you will read updates that show how Nex-Tech and the community efforts I am privileged to be a part of are making life better and improving the quality of life in the community. If you have any thoughts, please reply to this email. I will be happy to hear from you.
Friday Otuya, Nex-Tech
Current Loan & Grant Deadlines
Business Loans (November Funding Cycle): November 3, 2025
Blog Updates on Healthcare, USF, Tourism, and more
Spreading the Word about Smart Communities Powered by Fiber
Fiber Construction Update
Sights of Western Kansas: Waconda Lake
Community Vlogs
Upcoming Events in Salina, and more e
Top Community News
We are supporting the start of a restaurant! Again! This time in the historic town of Waldo, Russell County, KS. Waldo Tavern is a country restaurant and bar and will employ over four people, enhance the local economy, and provide a much-needed food option in the area. I am grateful to the local partners who worked with Nicholas and his partner, Crystal, to bring this about. And, I am proud of this family for stepping out and believing in the future of the community. Nic, the team at Nex-Tech, and I are here to support you, and we know you will succeed.
Check out Waldo Tavern's Facebook page here, and please plan a visit to support this promising local business opening this fall.
Nex-Tech to Bring Wi-Fi to Elmwood Park
Good news! We were recently awarded a state grant to bring free, reliable Wi-Fi to Elmwood Park, a central hub for events, sports, and recreation. We are thankful to our local partners, the City of Norton, Norton Chamber of Commerce, Norton Travel and Tourism Board, Norton County Economic Development, and the Norton County Division of Emergency Management for their support. Learn more.
Earlier this year, I joined my colleague John Hendrick to visit with leaders of Saline county and share Nex-Tech's efforts to make life better in the County. Check out the video above for details.
Northwest Kansas is a region that continues to fascinate us. Ella recently explained why we remain invested in the effort to enhance tourism in the region. Check it out here.
Nex-Tech Partners with Birdsall Family to Launch Auto Shop in Osborne, KS.
We recently supported the launch of Birdsall Automotive with a business loan, helping a father and son achieve their dream of opening an auto shop. The entire Nex-Tech team wishes Birdsall Automotive all the best as they embark on this journey!
From Norton to Hays, Salina to Hill City, Hoxie to Russell, Phillipsburg to Great Bend, and many other towns across northwest and central Kansas, Nex-Tech continues to power healthcare and directly support the provision of health-related services for tens of thousands of people. If you want to know why and how we do this, don't miss this story: https://www.nex-tech.com/how-nex-tech-makes-healthcare-better-for-rural-kansans/
Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth (NGRUFY) continues to provide practical opportunities in western Kansas, and fosters youth retention across the Nex-Tech footprint. Below is the most recent impact summary the team passed to us.
Internship Summer Recap 2025
From 2024 to 2025, the Internship program alone grew from 192 to 260 interns, and 106 to 141 businesses.
To date, 1,161 students have experienced local careers through this program! This summer was jam-packed with amazing interns, businesses, and leadership days!
Congratulations to my former intern, Ella Burrows, and other Interns of Nex-Tech who wrapped up their internship this summer! Ella is now off to law school in Topeka, but not before setting a pretty high bar for what interns could deliver for communities in NW Kansas. I am excited to see how future interns will follow in her footsteps and do good in the community. Enjoy the video of the recent intern graduation above.
Ella's last few weeks with us were a time of reflection and appreciation of Nex-Tech's evolution. She departs with an understanding that she has a role to play in the future of western Kansas. Check out this piece about her thoughts on Nex-Tech.
Did You Know?
Nex-Tech directly, and indirectly through community initiatives, has created over a dozen jobs so far in 2025!
Nex-Tech serves the following community institutions in our footprint with fiber broadband:
Over 25,000 Households
Over 5,000 Businesses
Over 30 School Districts
Over 15 Hospitals
Over 30 Libraries
Over 20 Fire Departments
Over 20 Childcare Centers
Rural Insights provides a bird’s eye view of Nex-Tech's impact on the state of Kansas and beyond. Click image below to read the 2025 edition.
Did you know Nex-Tech has loaned out over 10 million dollars to support the regional economy, and this investment has created nearly 300 jobs across the northwest and central Kansas region?
As a participant of the US Department of Agriculture’s REDLG program, we manage a Revolving Loan Fund that supports the local economy.
If you have a project or initiative that will greatly impact the whole community, please explore our donations and sponsorship page to submit an application.
Check out the story of Cynthia Welch in this video.
The future is digital. Don’t be left behind!
The Nex-Tech Academy for Digital Skills is available to our communities. Are you interested in putting together a training for your group or community?
The Nex-Tech Academy for Digital Skills is available to our communities. Are you interested in putting together a training for your group or community?
Recently, I had a very useful chat with the Executive Director of United Way of Central Kansas (UWCK), Charrel Owings, where we discussed how to partner to train members of the community. Thereafter, we welcomed UWCK to the Nex-Tech Academy family. Read the full story here.
Every town or city we serve with fiber broadband is a smart rural community. This means Nex-Tech enables better, quicker, faster, and improved ways of life with our technological solutions.
Now we must take advantage of these!
Does your town/city have Nex-Tech fiber broadband for residents?
Would you like a free Nex-Tech sign and certificate to advertise this?
If the answer is 'Yes', complete this form to request a Smart Rural Community Sign and Smart Rural Community Certificate.
Spreading the Word about Smart Opportunities for the Community
From above: Congratulations to Phillipsburg, Norton, Oberlin and Goessel, all in Kansas, for your recognition as Smart Rural Communities! Read more with the links below:
Construction is complete in Herndon, Clayton, and Kirwin towns, and we are currently moving subscribers to the new fiber system.
Construction is complete in the rural areas of Salina, east of the Country Club. We are currently installing subscribers on the new fiber system.
In Salina, construction is in progress in the northwest area of the city. Subscribers are beginning to be installed on the new fiber system.
In Oberlin town, construction is in progress.
Sights of Western Kansas: Waconda Lake, Northwest Kansas.
Waconda Lake is a man-made lake in north-central Kansas, along Highway 36, near Glen Elder. Built in 1968 on the Solomon River, it provides flood control, irrigation, water supply, and recreation. The lake covers the site of Waconda Spring, a mineral spring once sacred to Native American tribes. Today, it's a key destination for outdoor activities and an important regional water resource. The arrow was installed by the Waconda Cultural Association in memory of the history of the spring. Check out the spot this photo was taken. The area is open to visitors. Do plan a visit. 😊
Regulatory Update:
For many years, Nex-Tech has collaborated with industry partners to educate legislators on the importance of reliable and resilient broadband, first to all homes and businesses in rural America, and then to every farm, ranch, and acre. We are happy to see recent bipartisan progress to advance these goals across the country.
Our CEO, Jimmy Todd, recently joined other industry leaders to testify to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business.
Sept 19 - Love Chloe Golf, Partnership in which we provide marketing materials and support the golf day
Sept 27 - Smoky Hill Street Fair and Parade - We will be distributing candy at the parade. Stephanie Hilburn will be offering roping lessons during the fair, and we will have color pages and flyers available inside the event center.
Sept 27 - Love Chloe Gala - A partnership in which we provide the marketing for the event. Proceeds benefit childhood cancer research and also supports families in need with the things they need to make long trips, stay for long periods of time etc.
October 7th - USD 305 Growing Greatness Award
Oct. 16th - Salina Central High School Tailgate in partnership with NTW, we will be there with a booth, handing out t-shirts, and supporting school activities
Oct. 17th - Salina South High School Tailgate: We will be there handing out t-shirts and prepping everyone for the next day's events with flyers, etc.
Oct. 18th - Tee it Off with The Cougars, we are sponsoring this event and will have a table there promoting Nex-Tech and helping support school activities with the funds raised.
Oct. 18th - We will be donating two prizes for the Salina Sip and Stroll, and we will be doing the official kickoff for the common consumption area
Oct. 21 - Night of Potential, we will be there supporting Big Brother's Big Sisters of Salina with a sponsorship donation
Oct. 25 - Kansas Wesleyan University Homecoming - we will have a booth, handing out trinkets, flyers and have a drawing for one student and one general admission
Oct. 31 - Downtown Trick or Treat - a safe way for kids to treak or treat in Salina with businesses seeing over 2,000 kids.
Nov. 11 - USD 305 Growing Greatness award
Ella and Friday chat about rural community development
Thank you for reading this month's newsletter! Have comments, ideas, or opportunities to share? Just hit reply – I'd love to hear from you!
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