"The ultimate goal is to get to all 62 square miles of Akron," said Rourke.  "We will continue to find new partners to allow us to extend this."

  

 

The Knight Foundation is pledging $25 million, some of which is set aside to be used in a matching-grant program that will target public and private entities.  Rourke says it could be about two years before the first phase of the project is complete.

 

WATCH Channel 3's coverage of this digital announcement.

 

Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic says the plan blends with other plans already in the works.

 

"From education to improving the technical skills of our workers, this fits in nicely with upgrading infrastructure, upgrading our knowledge base and being able to really say that we're one of the leading communities in the country in every way," said Plusquellic.

 

The Knight Foundation is focusing on cities where the newspaper company published papers, with Akron being first on the list.  Part of the plan includes building a virtual clearinghouse of information to help other communities launch similar endeavors.