Broadband grants to include Wadena County
Almost 20 percent of Greater Minnesota households don’t have the same broadband connections as urban area residents. That’s about to change.
New grants totaling $34 million for 42 broadband infrastructure projects will level the playing field, expanding job, education and health opportunities for thousands of Minnesotans through access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
North rural Wadena County is included in the project list.
West Central Telephone Association will receive $718,850. The project will serve 174 unserved households, 13 unserved businesses and two community anchor institutions in Bluffton and Blowers townships in Otter Tail County and portions of Rockwood, Leaf River, North Germany and Wing River townships, including the community of Bluegrass, in Wadena County. The total eligible project cost is $1.5 million, with a $778,755 local match.
Also in the region, TDS Telecom is receiving a $3 million grant to benefit Cass and Crow Wing counties. This project will serve 3,459 unserved households, 62 unserved businesses and four community anchor institutions in Cass and Crow Wing counties, including Backus, Hackensack, Ideal Corners, Pequot Lakes, Pine River and Woman Lake. TDS Telecom (dba Arvig Telephone Co.) will provide improved services for 142 small enterprises that do not have access to high-speed internet. The total eligible project cost is $6 million, with a $3 million local match.
Minnesota’s Border-to-Border Broadband Development Program, located within DEED’s Office of Broadband Development, provides internet providers grants to expand broadband service to unserved or underserved areas of Minnesota. The funding pays for up to 50 percent of the cost of developing broadband for improved high-speed internet.
“Broadband is an important economic development tool that will improve people’s quality of life and make businesses more competitive,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy.
To see a full list of grant recipients and project descriptions see https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/#/detail
