ST. PAUL – Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, issued the following statement regarding Tuesday’s announcement from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development of 39 broadband grants totaling more than $26 million to bring broadband access to unserved and underserved parts of the state. Some grants leveraged funding from the Connect America Funding from the federal government, helping stretch funding from the state.
According to a press release from DEED, Albany ($616,743), Minnewaska ($4,996,791) and the Pospisil Drive Development near Alexandria ($54,155) will receive funding to bring internet access to a combined 954 unserved households and businesses. The grants are being matched by private funding.
“It is good to see local groups were successful in earning some of the grant money the Legislature provided to expand internet access in Greater Minnesota,” Anderson said. “I look forward to seeing these projects bring up to speed households and businesses that have been unable to enjoy reliable online service.”
The Republican-led legislature approved $20 million in grants for the Border-to-Border Broadband program during the 2017 legislative session.
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