Rep. Dale Lueck, R-Aitkin, urged local organizations and individuals interested in applying for Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant funding to attend upcoming informational webinars to learn more.
The Minnesota Office of Broadband Development will host a series of webinar sessions on July 7, July 10 and July 12, a news release said. Once registered, interested parties will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting.
"These online seminars provide important information on the application process for those interested in applying for a grant," Lueck said. "There is intense competition for the State Broadband Grants, they are awarded based on the overall merit of the project, it's important that applicants provide a high quality application."
The first hour of each webinar will cover the grant program and application process details. The second hour will be available for any additional questions from participants.
An additional $20 million was provided for the broadband grant program through a jobs and energy finance package that was enacted into law last month. This is in addition to the $45 million in broadband grants that have already been awarded during the past 2015-16 legislative state budget period. When combined with federal Connect America Funds, rural Minnesota will see over $100 million in broadband expansion this year alone, the release said.
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More information also is available at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's website. Visit www.mn.gov/deed and search for the keywords "broadband grant." People also may call 651-259-7610 or email deed.broadband@state.mn.us for details or assistance with webinar registration.
The deadline for submitting this round of grant applications is 4 p.m. Sept. 11. Prospective applicants must contact wireline broadband providers in their proposed project area by July 31 to comply with the pre-application notification portion of the application process (or six weeks before filing an application, if filing before Sept. 11).
