Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Department of Employment and Economic Development announce $26 million for 39 broadband projects across Greater Minnesota

New round of grants will expand high-speed internet access to 9,973 households, 2,169 businesses, and 60 community institutions in Greater Minnesota

New state grant funding will leverage an additional $34 million in private and local funding

State grant program has invested a total of $85 million, provided 33,852 households, 5,189 businesses, and 300 community institutions broadband access since 2014

Lt. Governor Tina Smith and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) 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 comes from a combination of $20 million approved during the 2017 legislative session, plus carryover from previous grant rounds, goes to broadband providers and communities to build out wireline and fixed wireless broadband infrastructure to Greater Minnesota. 

Gov. Mark Dayton and Smith secured the $20 million to expand high-speed internet access during the 2017 Legislative Session, after first proposing a $66 million investment. Overall, the Dayton-Smith Administration has proposed more than $210 million for rural high-speed internet development since 2014.

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