STATE BROADBAND GRANT AWARDS ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 8, 2022
STATE BROADBAND GRANT AWARDS ANNOUNCED DECEMBER 8, 2022
ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will award grants totaling $99,592,711 to 61 projects in the sixth year of the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program. State grant dollars are matched by $152,259,620 in private and local funds, for a total investment in broadband infrastructure of $251,852,331.
The funding, which includes both federal and state funds approved during the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, goes to broadband providers to build out broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations across the state. All award winners will deliver internet service speeds at or above the 2026 state speed goals of 100/20 Mbps, and all award winners will participate in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides monthly service discounts to help low-income households pay for internet service.
The following is a brief description of ISANTI COUNTY grant projects awarded this round:
East Central Energy – Isanti North – GRANT $5,000,000
This last mile project will serve approximately 1,988 unserved and underserved households and 142 unserved and underserved businesses, 353 Unserved and underserved farms, and 3 unserved and underserved community anchor institutions in the Isanti and Kanabec Counties of Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and local partners: Isanti County, Stanchfield, Kanabec County, Arthur, Brunswick, Southfork, Cambridge, and Maple Ridge; East Central Energy (ECE) will improve unserved/underserved levels to at least 100 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload, and with most having access to a 1Gbps connection; exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. This fiber-to-the-premises network will benefit households, businesses, and farms in the proposed grant area, furthering community and economic development.
Total eligible project cost is $16,850,584 Local match is $11,850,584
Midco (Midcontinent Communications) – Isanti County – GRANT $1,647,321
This last mile project will serve 545 unserved and underserved households and 17 unserved and underserved businesses, farms and community anchor institutions in portions of Isanti County in Minnesota. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota, Isanti County and Bradford Township, Midco will improve unserved/underserved levels to symmetrical 5 Gbps speeds, exceeding Minnesota's 2026 state speed goal. Building a fiber to the home plant provides advanced, high-speed broadband services to households, businesses and farms in the Isanti County area, improves access to critical school e-learning and makes agricultural operations, business and government more efficient. The broadband network will improve access to rural health care resources and will stimulate a more robust local area economy.
Total eligible project cost is $3,294,642 Local match is $1,647,321
