Funds will help teachers get school supplies and other resources for South Bend Community Schools’ classrooms

Comcast announced today that it has proactively connected its fiber-rich network to multiple mall properties across the company’s Greater Chicago Region in Illinois and Indiana, including:

• Southlake Mall, Merrillville, IN

Mall traffic is experiencing a resurgence. Some malls are experiencing a shift in tenants, while others are transforming from traditional retail destinations into anchor communities that include everything from entertainment venues, medical offices, service businesses, and public gathering spaces to office facilities and even residential buildings – in addition to retail. As a result, in many instances, the redevelopment is occurring both inside and outside mall structures and spilling onto the mall property.

With Comcast’s network in place, the company can deliver Internet speeds up to 100 Gbps to businesses and residential speeds faster than a Gigabit, along with its full suite of Comcast Business and Xfinity residential services, to mall properties.

“At the very least, the mix of stores inside malls is changing. On the other end of the spectrum, some malls are planning or are even in the process of transforming themselves,” said Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s Regional Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Initiatives. “State-of-the-art Internet connectivity and technology are playing a major role in almost all aspects of these changes. You really can’t have one without the other.”

With such a wide variety of retail, commercial, residential and public uses, this new iteration of malls requires powerful Internet connectivity and technology. Examples of how technology can be employed in transformed malls include:

• Retail stores process online orders for in-store and curbside pickup and employ virtual in-store try-on technology.
• Medical offices access patient medical records and exchange large imaging files.
• Entertainment venues book and manage reservations for large numbers of patrons.
• Malls need powerful websites and to connect to app platforms that have real-time information about all the different tenants, services and events occurring onsite.
  • Interactive maps use augmented reality and track and communicate with visitors onsite.
  • Smart displays and digital directories help visitors locate businesses, provide schedules and take advantage of amenities onsite.
• With residential buildings creating a built-in market onsite, businesses in the mall interact with residents, and vice versa, from booking restaurant and concert reservations to making medical appointments.
• Residents interact online or via app with building management, access building amenities, pay rent and even track packages that arrive.

Malls contribute to the economy. Technology contributes to malls.

Malls are big businesses, major economic drivers and job creators. Malls attract visitors from local and surrounding communities, which, in turn, increases tax revenue. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping shoppers at home and the rise of online shopping, mall traffic fell. However, a turnaround is underway. In fact, in 2022, mall sales increased by more than 11% to nearly $819 billion, according to The State of the American Mall, a report from Coresight Research. According to Gitnux Market Data, malls with a greater portion of non-retail tenants, such as restaurants, gyms and experience-oriented businesses, tend to attract more foot traffic.

For more information about the role of connectivity and technology in the next generation of malls and shopping centers, send an email to economic_development@comcast.com.

Source: Comcast

This Flag Day, June 14, there were plenty of displays across Northwest Indiana of Old Glory in the familiar red, white and blue stars and stripes. But what happens when a flag is not in good enough condition to fly outside of a home or business and represent the United States of America?

According to U.S. Flag Code, if a flag is no longer serviceable and is faded, frayed, tattered, torn or worn, it needs to be taken down and destroyed. The recommended method for homeowners and businesses across the country is the same way that U.S. military personnel retire their flags – through burning.

Veterans on staff at Comcast in Northwest Indiana have united to ensure that flags are retired with proper military protocols according to Comcast’s Regional VetNet co-lead Karin Ladd.

“Comcast is committed to supporting the military community, its veteran employees and their families,” Ladd said. “Comcast’s Veterans Network Employee Resource Group (VetNet ERG) is another great example of how our connection to the military community has influenced our company culture and focus. This group serves as a vital support system for our military-connected teammates, providing opportunities for mentorship, networking and professional development. This group also participates in several veteran-related service projects each year.”

VetNet ERG has more than 450 members in Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region, which includes Northwest Indiana, and nearly 10,000 members across the company nationwide. VetNet ERG members include Comcast employees who are military veterans, active participants in the reserves, military family members and other supporters of the military community.

In 2017, military-connected employees at Comcast NBCUniversal launched the Flag Replacement program to honor the nation’s symbol and ensure that the American flag is proudly displayed in Comcast’s service areas.

“Through this program, our dedicated teammates work together to replace worn or damaged flags outside homes and businesses at no cost to the property owners,” Ladd said.

If a Comcast technician notices a distressed, faded or torn American flag at a home or business, they report the location to the local VetNet team.

“The VetNet team then contacts the individual or business and offers to replace the flag for free,” Ladd said. “Our flag replacement team will then retire the flag in accordance with military protocols. Our team assists anyone in need of a flag replacement, regardless of whether they are Comcast customers.”

Flag ‘ambassadors’ are trained on the customs and courtesies for properly handling the American flag, including the traditional 13 folds. Each of the folds represents different facets of life, liberty, this country and the U.S. armed forces.

“After replacing the flag, our flag ambassadors will either provide the old flag to the property owner or coordinate with the local American Legion post for proper disposal,” Ladd said.

To learn more about Comcast’s ongoing commitment to the military community, visit military.comcast.com.