Blandin Foundation Launches Rural Broadband Fund

The Blandin Foundation, Grand Rapids, has launched a $1 million broadband development fund to stimulate demand for high-speed broadband technologies in rural Minnesota communities. The foundation's board of trustees awarded $309,000 to launch and operate the fund at their Dec. 2003 meeting.

"Broadband development and deployment can play a critical role in keeping rural communities competitive," said Gene Radecki, interim president of the foundation. "Broadband development is a key element of the foundation's Community Economic Advantage strategy and our mission to strengthen rural Minnesota communities."

Radecki said the foundation will raise $750,000 from industry, public and philanthropic sources to build the fund. The fund will be administered by the foundation's Broadband Strategy Board, whose membership includes representatives from the telecommunications industry and state and local governments.

"The fund will focus on promoting awareness, market development and helping communities identify and mobilize viable strategies and applications," Radecki said. "We expect telecom companies to participate and support the fund, but it will be used to improve connectivity from a community perspective rather than subsidize companies and their respective marketing efforts."

The grant for the broadband fund was among more than $4.16 million in grants approved by the foundation's board in Dec. 2003. Of that total, $3.4 million - or about 81 percent - was allocated to the direct benefit of the Grand Rapids area.

In addition to the broadband development fund, the foundation's other recent Community Economic Advantage grants include:

• Grow Minnesota, $30,000 for this project of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce to mobilize local chambers in an effort to retain and expand businesses by involving businesspeople in community economic development processes.
     
• Minnesota Project, $80,000 to work with six rural Minnesota regions to develop renewable energy and conservation programs.
     
• Minnesota West Community Technical College, $134,000 to establish the Center for Information and Training of Lab Technicians for the bioscience industry.
     
• Northern Itasca Health Center, $1 million to assist the center, which provides critical medical access to the Bigfork area and also is an important economic engine that directly and indirectly provides 306 jobs with $7.6 million in payroll and benefits.

The foundation's Dec. 2003 grants also included $1.2 million to sustain 25 Grand Rapids-area organizations and respond to social needs, including $579,000 to support 12 Grand Rapids-area United Way funded agencies; and $625,000 for education and scholarships for high school graduates in Itasca County, Hill City, Blackduck, Remer and Northome.

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