Blandin Foundation Awards Broadband Grants to Seven Communities

The Blandin Foundation in Grand Rapids has awarded grants to help seven rural Minnesota communities establish local goals for broadband utilization and educate the community about applications and broadband usage. The funds also provide for technical assistance and demonstration materials.

The grants, which totaled $97,500, are the first to be awarded from the foundation's Get Broadband initiative, which the foundation launched in 2003 to increase the utilization and deployment of broadband-based technologies. The initiative is based in a belief that as businesses, schools, health care facilities, governmental agencies and individuals become more aware of the many tools and services available through broadband-based technologies, they can increase productivity, efficiency and the area's overall quality of life.

In this first round of the Get Broadband community grant program, grant awards went to the communities of Grand Rapids, Cohasset, Ely, International Falls, Marshall Area (including Ghent, Minneota and Tracy), Thief River Falls and Windom. The community grants were reviewed by a group of senior telecommunications industry representatives, state and local public officials, and business representatives.

Broadband, which is generally defined as Internet telecommunications at speeds in excess of 256 kilobits per second that is always on (not dial up), is available through telephone wires, cable, fiber and wireless services. While at least 85 percent of Minnesota has broadband service, less than 20 percent of individuals and institutions outside the metro area actually use broadband.

The Blandin Foundation has committed $250,000 to the Get Broadband initiative and has received additional support from the telecommunications industry. For more information about the initiative, visit the foundation's Web site, or contact Bernadine Joselyn at 887.882.2257.

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