Nine Star Education & Employment Services history

On July 1, 1979, HRTC purchased the Sulphur Springs Telephone Company in Henry County and consolidated it into the Markleville exchange.

In January, 1981, the REMC moved to a factory building previously occupied by Industrial Products located at 2243 East Main Street in Greenfield.

In 1983, the REMC and HRTC formed Central Indiana Communications, Inc. (“CICI”) to provide cable television service in unserved areas of Hancock County.

The cable television service was later sold to what is now Comcast and HRTC acquired the REMC’s 50% interest in CICI. In 1985, the REMC celebrated its 50 year anniversary with nearly 6,000 members.

Also, in 1992, the REMC began operating under the assumed business name of Central Indiana Power (“CIP”).

From an annual budget of $665,000 in 1993 Nine Star’s current annual budget has grown to where it now stands at $7 million.

1994 – AmAK Literacy Project (Corporation for National & Community Service) allowed Nine Star to teach literacy and work readiness in Anchorage and outlying communities by assigning and coordinating the services of AmeriCorps Members.

In 1995, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission issued the first competitive local exchange carrier license to HRTC’s wholly-owned subsidiary Diversified Communications.

1997 – Work Search Program (Alaska Division of Public Assistance) was the first program operated in close conjunction with the DPA to provide preemployment and work readiness skills to public assistance recipients.

1999 – Post-Employment Training Program (US Department of Labor) offered training to employed public assistance recipients and served as the impetus for opening the Anchorage Job Center-Muldoon.

2000 – Regional Adult Education Program (Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development) makes it possible to offer education services (basic education, GED preparation, and English as a Second Language) to youth and adults.

2001 – Work Services Program (Alaska Division of Public Assistance), an outgrowth of the Welfare to Work Search Program, in which Nine Star in providing case management services to public assistance recipients referred by the Alaska Division of Public Assistance.

In 2002 HT, along with 19 other independent telecom companies in the State, created Indiana Fiber Network (“IFN”) which is a state-wide fiber optic network.

2004 – TAG Program in Fairview In conjunction with the “No Child Left Behind Act” Nine Star started a program to help tutor children in third and fourth grade.

2006 – ESL adds beginner classes Due to an influx of beginner English learners to Anchorage the ESL department expanded to include additional classes that would accommodate their learning needs.

2009 – Gold Pan Awardee President David Alexander wins the 2009 Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Gold Pan award for Entrepreneurial Excellence.

2010 – Returning Citizens’ Center Opens Growing out of a need to serve Alaskans who have recently been released from incarceration, the Returning Citizens’ Center (RCC) opens its doors.

On January 1, 2011, the merger become effective and the new cooperative, NineStar Connect, became only the second cooperative in the nation to be created from the consolidation of an electric and telecom cooperative.

In 2012, this program was housed back at the Alaska Department of Labor.

The RCC provides an open-to-the-public computer lab for job search, helps with July 2013 resume development, and provides daily workshops on employment.