NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Multi GRAMMY®
Award Winner Vince Gill took the stage with the CEOs of Frontier
Communications, DISH Network Corp. and CoBank today at the Country
Music Hall of Fame in Nashville,
Tenn. to announce he's joining the America's Best
Communities partnership to revitalize small towns and cities across
America.
America's Best Communities $10
million prize competition will reward communities with the
best business plans for economic development and improved quality
of life. The winners will also share best practices and great
ideas for innovative growth among all the communities that
participate in the competition.
In an event celebrating the strength and vitality of rural
America – on a stage where he has often celebrated rural America in
song – Vince Gill spoke from his
heart to a crowd holding aloft rally signs naming their
communities, while behind him flashed photos of small cities and
towns that are eagerly participating in the competition.
"There's a lot of small town community in me. I have a small
town mentality," Vince Gill told the
crowd, for whom the day marked a ceremonial kickoff for their
efforts. "This is where I live and I want to make it better, I want
to be part of a team focused on supporting the backbone of
America."
America's Best Communities has already drawn more than 200
registrations across the 27 states served by Frontier
Communications. Fifty quarter-finalists will be selected in April,
2015 and awarded development funds for their revitalization
proposals. At the end of the competition in 2017, the top
three applicants will share $6
million in prize money – $3
million to the winner, $2
million for second place and $1
million for third place – money to be used to continue to
implement their improvement plans.
Maggie Wilderotter, Chairman and
CEO of Frontier Communications, said, "As the largest broadband
communications company focused on rural America, we want to be a
catalyst for growth in our towns and cities. We believe that
investments in these locations will have a multiplier effect as
communities embrace opportunities for revitalization. Whether
it is upgrading existing businesses in the area or new startups, a
focus on local businesses will be key to sustained growth. We
also will look for innovative ideas on how each community will come
together to socialize and interact as a measurement of
success."
Conceived by Frontier Communications and co-sponsored with DISH
Network and CoBank, America's Best Communities Prize is a
competition that will fund economic development opportunities for
the winners and share best practices and great ideas for progress
among all the communities that enter.
"Our nation depends on a strong rural America," said CoBank CEO
Robert B. Engel. "Rural communities
need continuous investment and support in order to ensure they
remain healthy and can continue to play a vital role in the broader
economy. That's why we are so excited to support the ABC campaign.
We look forward to seeing the proposals generated by the ABC
competition, and the tangible benefits it will deliver to all
communities who decide to participate."
"DISH is a proud co-sponsor of America's Best Communities
because the initiative supports entrepreneurism, innovation and
creativity – ideals reflective of our roots," said DISH Network
President and CEO Joseph P. Clayton.
"Our expectation is that America's Best Communities will help
provide the right motivation, resources and rewards to support
those working to make their communities the best they can be."
All entrants will win access to each other's ideas and plans to
use in their own future economic development efforts. The deadline
for entry is March 25, 2015.
About Vince Gill
One of the most popular singers in modern country music,
Vince Gill is famous for his
top-notch songwriting, world-class guitar playing and warm, soaring
tenor, all wrapped up in a quick and easy wit. Since 1990, Gill has
won 20 GRAMMY Awards and 18 Country Music Association Awards. The
CMA just honored Gill with its prestigious Irving Waugh Award of Excellence which is
awarded to an individual who is "the originator and caretaker of
demonstrated ideas and actions that have dramatically broadened and
improved country music's influence." Gill was also recently
presented the BMI Icon Award. The Academy of Country Music
has conferred eight awards on Gill. Gill is a member of the
Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry. He is a member
of the four-time Grammy-nominated band The Time Jumpers. Visit
www.vincegill.com.
About FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS
Frontier Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: FTR) offers
broadband, voice, video, wireless Internet data access, data
security solutions, bundled offerings, specialized bundles for
residential customers, small businesses and home offices and
advanced communications for medium and large businesses in 28
states. Frontier's approximately 17,000 employees are based
entirely in the United States.
More information is available at www.frontier.com.
About DISH
DISH Network Corp. (NASDAQ: DISH), through its subsidiaries,
provides approximately 14.041 million pay-TV subscribers, as of
September 30, 2014, with the highest
quality programming and technology with the most choices at the
best value. Subscribers enjoy a high-definition lineup with more
than 200 national HD channels, the most international channels, and
award-winning HD and DVR technology. DISH Network Corp. is a
Fortune 250 company. Visit www.dish.com.
About CoBank
CoBank is a $102 billion
cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The
bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial
services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and
communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides
financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving
farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the
country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide
network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to
support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture and the nation's
rural economy. Visit www.cobank.com.
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SOURCE Frontier Communications