In rural communities across St. Clair, Cottrellville, and Ira townships, reliable internet was once a luxury. Major telecommunications companies often overlook these areas, leaving residents, schools, and businesses disconnected from the modern digital world. David LaDuke, a local entrepreneur with a vision for change, decided to bridge this digital divide by launching Duke Broadband, a rural internet service provider specializing in deploying high-speed fiber-optic networks.
Building underground and aerial internet infrastructure requires substantial upfront capital. As a startup, Duke Broadband faced significant hurdles, including major funding gaps because commercial banks were hesitant to provide large-scale loans to a new infrastructure firm. Navigating the complex technical requirements for competitive federal and state programs was also complex, including the USDA Rural Development, Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, and the Connecting Michigan Communities grant. To make matters more difficult, corporate giants filed formal objections during the grant vetting process, threatening to stall vital funding.
Recognizing the need for strategic guidance, David connected with Shannon Schwabe, business consultant with the Michigan SBDC. Over an initial two-hour conversation, David and Shannon mapped out a plan to turn his local vision into a fully funded reality. The Michigan SBDC became a central resource to Duke Broadband’s expansion efforts, coordinating with several regional partners. Shannon worked alongside David to develop a data-driven business plan and detailed financial projections that met strict Small Business Administration standards. These financial models proved essential when presenting Duke Broadband’s viability and financial commitment to lending partners Northstar Bank and Huntington Bank.
To secure public funding, Shannon assisted David in navigating the competitive grant applications. The Michigan SBDC also conducted critical market research, gathering demographic data on rural internet needs and online schooling requirements. This data allowed David to align his project with the regional economic plans of the St. Clair County Planning Commission and the Regional Educational Service Agency to support student connectivity.
With the support of the Michigan SBDC, Duke Broadband achieved major funding milestones to fuel its infrastructure builds. The company has secured over $15 million in capital, including personal investment, a commercial loan and $13.4 million in grants.
In its initial phase, Duke Broadband successfully connected more than 65 homes with high customer adoption rates, putting the company on track to reach hundreds more. This essential infrastructure now supports remote learning and strengthens the regional economic plan for the I-69 Trade Corridor. In recognition of these achievements, Duke Broadband was named the 2025 Michigan SBDC Best Small Business at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business awards.
The project’s impact is deeply personal for both the community and the Michigan SBDC team. Shannon, who is a resident of the area, now has fiber-optic internet running directly to her own home thanks to David’s infrastructure builds. David expressed deep gratitude for the support, noting that the Michigan SBDC is a blessing that helps small businesses navigate complex challenges. He explained that whatever he needed, Shannon seemed to find a way to make it work.
For Shannon, the opportunity to support a local business owner who was born, raised and continues to invest in his hometown is incredibly rewarding. She emphasized that seeing the difference made in local businesses, and being able to offer these services at no cost, is truly remarkable. Through dedicated partnership, Duke Broadband and the Michigan SBDC have ensured that rural Michigan communities can remain competitive across the entire state.
“I’d like to thank the Michigan Small Business Development Center and also, more importantly, Shannon,” David said. “The program and everything she’s brought to us has just been phenomenal. She’s answered questions that I didn’t have a clue what they were, she’s built projections that I had no idea how to do, and she’s helped us from securing grants to securing funding. Whatever I need, she seems to find a way to make it work.”
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