Midwest Connections, a service of Midwest Energy Cooperative, is hosting a series of summer open houses to give co-op members an opportunity to test drive the fiber internet service now being used by more than 2000 homes and businesses across southwest Michigan.

The next event is from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Calvin Township Community Building, 18727 Mt. Zion, Cassopolis. Team Fiber representatives will be on hand to answer questions, and technology stations will be available to experience the look and feel of a real high-speed service.

In 2015, Midwest launched a five-year plan to deploy the fiber internet solution across the co-op’s southwest Michigan service territory. The cooperative is investing in a system-wide fiber communications infrastructure across the distribution grid for utility purposes, and is leveraging that investment to deliver the first real high-speed option for the largely unserved and underserved rural space in southwest Michigan.

The service is now available, or will be yet this year, across 11 substation zones in the co-op’s southwest Michigan service territory. Thirteen substation zones remain in pre-registration. Midwest is employing a grassroots approach to determine next-step construction plans through the five-year build. Co-op members are encouraged to visit TeamFiber.com to learn more and sign up.

The open house event is free and open to any Midwest Energy Cooperative member. The final open house event for the summer will be Thursday, Sept. 22 at Milton Township Hall. For more information or to reserve a spot, please contact Nicole Barfell at (269) 445-1112 or email nicole.barfell@teammidwest.com.

Midwest Energy Cooperative is a member-owned electric utility providing electric distribution and an assortment of energy and telecommunications programs and services to more than 35,000 customers in 11 counties in southern Michigan and northern Indiana and Ohio.