St Paul, MN – Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) today announced the 2017 Border-to-Border Broadband Grant recipients. The grants total $26 million for 39 broadband infrastructure projects that will provide 9,973 households, 2,169 businesses, and 60 community institutions across Minnesota access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet.
The funding, which was approved during the 2017 legislative sessions, goes to broadband providers and communities to build out wireline and fixed wireless broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations across the state.
“Access to quality, affordable broadband is a tool that levels the playing field for Minnesotans all across the state,” said DEED Commissioner Shawntera Hardy. “This funding, and the private investment leveraged from it, will soon allow even more individuals, communities and businesses the opportunity to access the internet at speeds that meet today’s demands.”
Bevcomm has been awarded $545,220 for fiber expansion projects in rural Delavan, Freeborn, and Granada, MN. The projects will allow for faster Internet with download speeds up to a Gigabit. Bevcomm will begin construction in 2018. More specific details follow:
Bevcomm (Easton Telephone Company)
This project will serve 25 households and 30 businesses in the southeastern rural Delavan area. The total eligible project cost is $565,000, with a $344,650 investment from Bevcomm.
Bevcomm (Cannon Valley Telephone)
This project will serve 15 households and 17 businesses in the rural Freeborn area, and completing a build-out started two years ago. The total eligible project cost is $314,000, with a $191,540 investment fromBevcomm.
Bevcomm (Granada Telephone Company)
This project will serve 35 households and 21 businesses in the rural Granada area located in Martin County, completing a build-out started a year ago. The total eligible project cost is $519,000, with a $316,590 investment fromBevcomm.