Blandin Foundation Seeks Applicants for Rural Broadband Program

The Blandin Foundation's "Get Broadband" program is accepting grant applications from rural Minnesota communities to stimulate the use of broadband-based technologies.

"The foundation will provide resources, technical assistance and up to $15,000 to each qualifying rural community in the first round of funding," said Bernadine Joselyn, Blandin's public policy and engagement director, who is responsible for the Get Broadband program. The foundation expects to award up to six community grants in the first round, with subsequent rounds to follow.

Applicants are urged to demonstrate their community's commitment to introducing and increasing:

• Awareness about the benefits of broadband.
• Business, institutional and residential use.
• Public and private investment in broadband capacity.

"We will invest in communities that are committed to delivering on the promise broadband offers," Joselyn said. "We are eager to work with farsighted community leaders who understand how urgent broadband is for community survival in the new economy."

The foundation says it started the Get Broadband program because it believes that broadband technology facilitates rural community economic development and is important to rural economic success, and can help transform rural communities into centers of innovation and technology.

"In today's global economy, we are no longer competing with our neighbors in South Dakota, Iowa or Wisconsin," Joselyn said. "We are competing with every country, every business, every day. Communities that want to thrive must embrace broadband. It's as simple as that."

Despite the benefits and promise of broadband, it is vastly underutilized in many rural communities. A recent study by the Center for Rural Policy and Development found that only 15 percent of rural Minnesotans subscribe to broadband.

The Blandin Broadband Initiative is designed to catalyze broadband use, to raise awareness about the benefits of broadband and to encourage public and private investment in rural broadband capacity. It is led by a 15-person strategy board representing private and public sector partners and stakeholders.

The first-round grant application deadline for the Get Broadband program is October 8, 2004. Program information and applications are available online from the foundation's Web site or by contacting Joselyn at 218/327-8728; brjoselyn@blandinfoundation.org.

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