Connect Minnesota recently released a report on business use of broadband. Here are some of the highlights as reported by their press release:

• Broadband-connected businesses bring in approximately $200,000 more in annual median revenues than non-broadband adopting businesses
• About 83,000 Minnesota business establishments have websites
• 47,000 Minnesota businesses use the Internet to advertise job openings or accept job applications
• Online sales in Minnesota account for approximately $6.2 billion in annual sales revenue
• More than one-half of Minnesota businesses in the healthcare sector (55%) use the Internet to stay in touch with their customers and patients
• 40,000 businesses in Minnesota are still not connected to broadband and are unable to actively participate in the digital global economy

Connected Nation also put out a broader report based on the surveys in the nine states where they work. It’s interesting to note that  the broader reports broadband-connected businesses bring in approximately $300,000 more in annual median revenues than non-broadband adopting businesses; that number is reduced to $200,000 in Minnesota.