State Grants Awarded to Several Douglas County Broadband Projects
SAINT PAUL, MN – Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, announced that state funding is being awarded to expand broadband access to several unserved or underserved communities throughout Douglas County.
The awards were issued through the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program, administered by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED.)
West Lake Carlos is receiving $24,450 in a funding partnership with the state of Minnesota and Charter Communications. The project will serve approximately 42 unserved households on the west side of Lake Carlos.
Ida and Carlos Townships are receiving a $1,551,370 grant through a funding partnership with the state and Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association. The project will help 71 unserved and 544 underserved locations in those communities.
Alexandria Township is receiving $692,929 in a funding partnership with the state of Minnesota and Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association. The project will serve 212 unserved households, 79 unserved businesses, and one unserved farm.
La Grand Township is receiving $90,251 in a funding partnership with the state and Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association. The project will help 46 unserved and 3 underserved locations, included home-based businesses and households with telecommuters.
Lake Osakis is part of a project that includes Sauk Lake and Smith Lake in receiving $486,458 in a funding project with the state of Minnesota and Arvig (Tekstar Communications.) The projects will upgrade approximately 230 unserved and 39 underserved locations in Todd and Douglas counties.
“Broadband access is critical to our communities in Douglas county,” said Rep. Franson. “Living and working from home during COVID-19 has only highlighted the need for reliable and affordable internet connections. The Border-to-Border program has played an important role in funding broadband projects, and I am pleased to see so many projects in our neighborhoods awarded grants.”
DEED noted that grants awarded total over $20.6 million in the sixth year of the Border-to-Border program.