With poll: Two Google fiber applications: What does that tell us about Washtenaw County?

Midsize communities around the U.S. are now actively trying to prove they’re worthy. One recent example: Kalamazoogle. As the March 26 deadline approaches, expect more hype.

After that deadline, though, I suspect many in Washtenaw County will look back on the application process and realize it was a defining event in this region.

Win or lose.

That’s because Ann Arbor is actively pursuing an application. Then Saline and Pittsfield Township united this week to do the same thing. Now their drive to promote “Googleville” pits them against Ann Arbor’s A2Fiber effort.

And the drive illuminates how the region is evolving.

Some telling elements:

• Ann Arbor started its application process on its own. And it has stayed alone the pursuit, saying it was too late in the game to bring other communities on board.

• Ypsilanti is supporting Ann Arbor, thanks to a City Council resolution and individuals who are helping build the mandatory community-wide enthusiasm for the project. Signs of community unity continue between these two cities (think chamber of commerce merger), which spent decades effectively ignoring each other or chafing when one community took the spotlight over the other.

• Pittsfield Township is building its own identity under its own name. Ask someone in Lake Forest or Ashford Village where they live, and you’re increasingly likely to hear “Pittsfield Township” instead of the city in the mailing address (there are four in the township). Township officials are building their own business-friendly brand. One holdout is major retailers - and there are many in the township - still use the mailing address to identify their stores.

• Saline Area Schools is the second-largest district in the county, behind Ann Arbor. And it’s using that status to help define its own district - but also sees the potential from collaborating with Saline and Pittsfield Township to build identity. Ann Arbor aligned with the University of Michigan (no surprise given U-M’s connections to Google co-founder Larry Page). Schools as a political force can extend beyond the classroom and contract talks. And as district sizes change (Dexter is likely to overtake Ypsilanti soon), regional dynamics may change, too.

• All of Washtenaw County isn’t “on the bus” named Ann Arbor. When we say Ann Arbor, we’re often talking about a regional brand. There’s a reason for it: It’s identifiable across the U.S. and is the largest city in the county. But when the city says all of its seats are full, this move showed other communities don’t feel the need to give up the ride.

The leaders in both efforts downplay the competitive aspects of Pittsfield Township and Saline joining the contest on their own. There’s nothing to gain by doing that at this stage.

Quotes from Wednesday’s story show both sides are being careful about how they’re presenting their respective positions.

"I don't think we're in competition with one another," said Mandy Grewal, Pittsfield Township supervisor.

And here’s the Ann Arbor “Google czar’s” take on it: "I don’t see it as negative or positive," said Tom Crawford, chief financial officer for the city of Ann Arbor. "Ypsilanti voted to support Ann Arbor. My understanding is they believe that something good in this region is good for all of us. I think Pittsfield and Saline believe the same thing. It’s just a different way of saying the same thing."

It’s also a way of saying communities outside of the city of Ann Arbor want to bring their own voices to community initiatives that go beyond the city’s boundaries.

After March 26 passes and Google later announces a decision on its chosen communities, I hope Ann Arbor - the community brand and the city - find a way to accomplish that.

Paula Gardner is Business News Director of AnnArbor.com. Contact her at 734-623-2586 or by email.