Sometimes I wear a Minnesota Rural Partners hat. I help post their newsletter. This month I noticed a few funding opportunities that I thought might be used to promote or create broadband opportunities…

The Rural Initiative component of the Laura Jane Musser Fund supports collaborative and participatory efforts among citizens in rural communities in Minnesota. Grants are provided for programs that will help to strengthen rural towns and regions in the targeted states in a number of civic areas, including economic development, business preservation, arts and humanities, public space improvements, and education. The applicant community must have a population of 10,000 or fewer and must be able to demonstrate the rural characteristics of its location. Planning grants of up to $5,000 and implementation grants of up to $25,000 are provided. The application deadline is November 5, 2008. Complete funding guidelines are available on the Laura Jane Musser Fund’s website. Laura Jane Musser Fund: Rural Initiative

Rural Pharmacy Planning and Transition Grant applications are invited from rural communities and health care providers (hospital clinics, pharmacies, long term care or other health care facilities) by November 7. The program is intended to preserve access to prescription medication and the skills of a pharmacist in rural areas. Applications are online or contact Doug Benson at (651) 201-3842 or doug.benson@state.mn.us.

IDEA Competition – Northwest Minnesota’s first venture competition has $50,000 in cash awards that will be awarded to up to five winning ideas (annually). The first round of the competition closes November 15. Learn more at the website or contact Michelle Landsverk at 218-435-2834