We mentioned last week that communities participating in the MIRC (Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities) initiative had selected local programs to fund and that we’d be pleased to be sharing some of the announcements as they rolled off the presses. Well today we’re happy to share news from the Morris Sun Tribune that Stevens County has selected 11 Stevens County schools, libraries and organizations to receive $84,000 for broadband technology projects through its participation in the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities initiative. Here are the project descriptions, taken from the Morris Star Tribune…

RESOURCE CONNECTIONS – $20,000
Resource Connections will permanently install at least one public assess computer and one wireless router and their associated software and support equipment for a community “wireless wi-fi hot spot” and a three-year Internet subscription in each of the five incorporated cities of Stevens County. All public access computers and wireless routers shall be provided for the use of the general public at no cost to users.

MIDWEST SPECIAL EDUCATION COOPERATIVE – $11,000
Midwest Special Education Cooperative shall provide speech therapy and other special education services via the Internet to students in 9 West Central Minnesota Public School Systems (Browns Valley, Chokio-Alberta, Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley, Cyrus, Hancock, Herman-Norcross, Morris Area, West Central Area, and Wheaton). Midwest Special Education Cooperative will collect system use data to measure the effectiveness of this new service delivery model. The data will be used to establish the effectiveness and possible future uses of Internet delivery of special education services.

MORRIS AREA COMMUNITY EDUCATION – $10,000
Morris Area Community Education (MACE) will add to its holdings, 10 laptop computers (a Mobile Leaning Laboratory) and their associated support equipment (storage unit, printer, etc.) for its and the Morris Area School System’s (MAS) use. They will be available to recognized community organizations at no cost for workshop and training purposes when not being used by MACE or MAS.

STEVENS FORWARD – $3,000
Stevens Forward will provide countywide coordination involving public entity web site development and updating throughout Stevens County. The web sites, at a minimum shall include 1 county government site, 5 city government sites, 1 chamber of commerce site, 1 county economic development organization site, and 1 Resource Connections site. Other sites may or may not be included.

MORRIS PUBLIC LIBRARY – $10,000
The Morris Public Library will add to its holdings, 6 laptop computers and their associated support equipment (storage unit, printer, etc.) for use within the library. They will be available to recognized community organizations at no cost for workshop and training purposes when not being used by the Library. In addition a space and resources within the library will be provided to create a business and career work center.

STEVENS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY – $ 6,000
Stevens County Historical Society (SCHS) will become a globally connected resource by providing its collections and records on its web site. The collection data to go broadband first will be the Stevens County cemetery records. Digital inclusion of the other collection data such as the 20,000+-photo collection as well as some digital images of artifacts and archives will also be uploaded to the web site. Wireless routers will be installed in the upper and lower meeting spaces and the lecture space at the Museum.

HANCOCK PUBLIC SCHOOL – $6,000
Hancock Public School District 768 will increase its broadband strength from 3mbs to 10mbs by 31 December 2011.

MORRIS AMERICAN LEGION – $10,000
The Morris American Legion will add to its holdings the equipment necessary to make the Walter Tripp American Legion Post 29 an Internet Community Internet Center, a public access computer site, and a community “wi-fi” hot spot. The Community Internet Center will be available to recognized community organizations at no cost for workshop and training purposes when not being used by the American Legion.

MORRIS HRA 1 – $2,000
The Morris Housing and Redevelopment Authority (MHRA) will establish a web site for the City of Morris Public Housing Program. The web site will provide information to past, current, and prospective public housing tenants and other interested parties with up-to-date guidance and educational information. The web site will also have on-line versions of all Morris Public Housing Program documents (applications, etc.). MHRA will provide the public with computer access for the Morris Public Housing Program.

MORRIS HRA 2 – $5,000
The Morris Housing and Redevelopment Authority (MHRA) will establish a web site for the Morris Housing and Redevelopment Authority Rental Housing Licensing Program. The web site will provide information to past, current, and prospective tenants, landlords, and other interested parties with up-to-date inspection results, guidance and educational information. The web site will also have on-line versions of all landlord/tenant Rental Housing Licensing Program documents (applications, etc.). MHRA will provide the public with computer access for the Morris Rental Housing Licensing Program.

HANCOCK COMMUNITY LIBRARY – $1,000
The Hancock Community Library will add to its holdings, 1 laptop computer and its associated support equipment (storage unit, printer, etc.) for use within the library. It will be available to recognized community organizations at no cost for workshop and training purposes when not being used by the Library.

Stevens County Economic Improvement Commission (SCIEC) is a project partner in the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities initiative. MIRC is a coalition of 19 statewide partners and 11 demonstration communities funded in large part through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant. The work of the coalition focuses on bringing the full promise of broadband technologies to rural Minnesota communities, businesses and people. Blandin Foundation serves as the project administrator.