Redwood County has been looking into broadband for a while. They have been building local demand with local training on how to better use broadband through a MIRC partnership with MNREM (Minnesota Renewable Energy Marketplace). The training includes webinars, classroom training through University of Minnesota Extension and monthly social media breakfasts.

Recently Redwood has taken another step forward by starting a broadband feasibility study. The Redwood Area Development Corporation (RADC) blog reports…

The Redwood Area Development Corporation, lead by Julie Rath, will meet with Compass Consulting in August. This is the company the Redwood County Board approved to start the County’s feasibility study. This study will provide an inventory assessment of the current broadband capabilities, and will also inventory what current providers have available and anticipate what our future needs will look like.

The desired outcome of this planning effort is to provide a tool for Redwood County to assist in future implementation projects that will lead to additional economic development opportunities, enhance educational opportunities, improved medical services and improved quality of life.

This project is funded through a grant from the Blandin Foundation and local resources of the Redwood County EDA, NU-Telecom and Arvig Communications. Visit the Blandin on Broadband Blog and sign up to receive email updates on broadband use, access, and trends especially in rural Minnesota, click here.