Cape council approves pact with Marquette Tech District Foundation

The Cape Girardeau City Council approved an agreement with the not-for-profit Marquette Tech District Foundation, setting the stage for fiber-optic improvements downtown.

Council members unanimously approved the agreement Tuesday night, allowing the foundation to use two of the city’s fiber-optic strands to provide high-speed internet to the Marquette Tower, formerly the Marquette Hotel, and the adjacent H-H Building on Broadway.

City clerk Gayle Conrad said the foundation wants to have fiber-optic cable in service to the Marquette Tower before the end of July.

In exchange, the Foundation plans to install fiber-optic cable in downtown, including Main Street, within the next two years.

The foundation will own all the hardware, including switches and routers, foundation officials said.

Council members had questioned the arrangement during a study session before the meeting.

Ward 4 Councilman Robbie Guard questioned the arrangement with the foundation, noting it would provide a high-tech service to the for-profit, tech-hub development planned for the Marquette Tower.

But city manager Scott Meyer said the city has been building its fiber network over the past six or seven years by partnering with Southeast Missouri State University and private businesses that also wanted to improve their networks.

Meyer said the city will benefit from the additional fiber-optic cable that will be installed at the foundation’s expense.

“We felt that was a good tradeoff,” Meyer told the council. “I don’t think it is a risk for us.”

The agreement will benefit the entire downtown, allowing for public Wi-Fi there, city officials said.

James Stapleton, serving as the unpaid executive director of the foundation, told the council the foundation is “making a considerable investment” in the fiber-optic network of several hundred thousand dollars.

Stapleton co-founded Codefi, which provides co-working space for startup businesses.

Codefi will have about 19,000 square feet of co-working space, private offices and conference rooms in the Marquette Tower, which is designed to be a high-tech hub.

Jeffrey Maurer leads the board of directors of the newly created foundation.

He also leads a local investor group called Old Town Cape Historic Preservation Group LLC.

Stapleton told the council the foundation hopes to secure federal grants to help fund fiber-optic improvements.

Maurer said before the council meeting the for-

profit development on Broadway includes commercial office space, a technology center, hotel and three restaurants.

As for the foundation, it was set up to benefit the community, he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3641

Pertinent address:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.