Eliminated Burlington Telecom bidders back in as partners

ZRF Partners founder Faisal Nisar and Schurz Communications CEO Todd Schurz submitted a joint proposal to Burlington (VT), offering $25 million for Burlington Telecom. The proposal also detailed a plan to grow Burlington Telecom and make Burlington a "hot bed for tech entrepreneurs and startups in New England." The joint proposal came about through Gary Evans, an adviser to Nisar and the retired CEO of Hiawatha Broadband Communications, which Schurz bought in Oct 2017. Evans connected Nisar and Schurz, Schurz said, and the two men spoke for "hours" about their vision. Evans has served as a consultant for Burlington Telecom. ZRF would be the managing partner, Schurz said, and has control of the bid. Schurz will be an investor. The offer includes $1.75 million over the next seven years for a fund to support local startups in partnership with BTV Ignite, a nonprofit founded to support the local tech economy. The offer also includes a commitment to expand Burlington Telecom throughout the city and into neighboring communities, and $350,000 over the next seven years to teach technical skills to Burlington students.