NineStar Connect
| Founded | 1895 |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Greenfield, Indiana |
Number of locations | Four: Greenfield, Maxwell, McCordsville, Knightstown |
Key people | Michael R. Burrow, President & CEO |
| Products | Electricity, Voice, Internet, IP Television, Security, Water & Sewer |
| Revenue | $65,045,297.00 (2018) |
| Total assets | $127,955,141.00 (2018) |
Number of employees | 125 |
| Divisions | Communications
Electric Water & Sewer |
| Website | www.ninestarconnect.com |
NineStar Connect headquartered in Greenfield, Indiana, is an American smart utility cooperative in the United States, with assets in Central Indiana. The company offers communication, electric, water & sewer utility services.
Overview
Based in Greenfield, Indiana, NineStar Connect owns 855 miles of electric distribution lines and over 1,500 miles of fiber optic lines.
History
NineStar Connect actually traces in origins back to the The McCordsville Telephone Company which was founded in 1895 by Loren Helms. Helms, a telephone factory worker, strung a wire across a back fence from his mother’s house to the home of his sister, Mrs. Charles Peal, and installed the first telephone in the community. Soon three neighbors joined the line Hiram Dunham, James Thomas, and Robert Wilson – and the company was in business. It become a cooperative in 1950 once merged with Maxwell, Mohawk, New Eden and Willow Branch Telephone companies. Central Indiana Power was incorporated in 1936 as Hancock County Rural Electric Membership Cooperative to offer electricity to what used to be rural portions of the county. These two local cooperatives officially merged on January 1, 2011.[1]
The name NineStar Connect is the result of the newly merged cooperative that was previously known as separate entities, Hancock Telecom and Central Indiana Power. On February 9, 2011, then NineStar President & CEO Tim Hills stated " A lot of time, research and discussion went into the selection of the new name. We wanted an innovative name yet we wanted to keep some of the heritage of the two great cooperatives." More than 800 customers and employees gave their input, with majority supporting the new name. The significance of the word "Nine" is that nine separate companies have been consolidated since 1950 to form what is now the new merge. "Star" references light. Which is key in fiber-optics and digital technologies. Along with a subtle reminder that electricity provides light. "Connect" describes how the cooperative brings together electricity and communications in a single service package. [2]
In 2016 NineStar grew their utility service offerings by expanding into Water and Sewer. The utility received approval from Hancock County officials and were granted nearly 45,000 acres of rural area as a new water territory. In addition, within that territory NineStar acquired assets to the Sugar Creek Utilities and Philadelphia Water Works. [3] In January 2019 the company added to their water division by acquiring the Gem Water Utility from the Town of Cumberland. The transaction was for $4 million and included over 500 customers. [4] NineStar plans to construct a fiber optic network to the newly acquired customers and the Town of Cumberland.
Finances
Awards
On November 4, 2009 then Hancock Telecom and Central Indiana Power were both honored by Indiana Governor Mitchell Daniels, Jr. for their longevity. In a ceremony which took place in the Indiana Statehouse North Atrium Hancock Telecom received the Century Award for being in business at that time for over 114 years. Central Indiana Power was presented with a Half Century Award for having been in business for over 73 years. [5]
References
- ^ Shearer, Stephen (1992). "Hoosier Connections". Hoosier Connections - Indiana Telephone History.
- ^ Smith, Derek (February 9, 2011). "Merged co-op gets new name". Greenfield Daily Reporter.
- ^ Greenfield Daily Reporter Dated February 12, 2016
- ^ Greenfield Daily Reporter Dated January 26-28, 2019
- ^ Frey, Molly (November 5, 2009). "Indiana Businesses Honored for Longevity". WTHR.
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