OnLight Aurora has received a $250,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) from the Dunham Fund to provide funding for the connection of nonprofits within the City of Aurora. OnLight Aurora is currently working with the Aurora Public Library system, local businesses, area school districts and Pathways to Prosperity to challenge the usual Internet service providers by changing the market through connection of these partners to a more efficient and affordable municipal fiber network.
Dunham Fund has supported this effort with a $250,000 Program Related Investment. Like grants, PRIs support charitable activities. Unlike grants, PRIs take the form of investments, usually requiring the return of capital within an established time frame. The OnLight Aurora PRI is a no-interest loan.
OnLight Aurora, a City of Aurora owned municipal fiber network, is community fiber ISP and an Illinois not-for-profit serving the Aurora region with ultra high speed, low cost, highly available, scalable fiber optic network. OnLight Aurora brings a robust network to the community’s anchor institutions. Its services are designed to support and foster economic development growth and promote organizational collaboration through the region. OnLight Aurora has been a nationally recognized model for municipal networks to replicate and a successful method to bring high speed broadband to the community.
About Dunham Fund
The Dunham Fund provides grants to measurably and permanently impact the our service area through startup support of new or uniquely enhanced educational and community development programs and capital projects. The Dunham Fund seeks grant applications from organizations that encourage innovation and collaboration to create positive change in the Dunham Fund service area.