Last week the Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund debuted with an event that featured Minnesota’s own Lac qui Parle Computer Commuter – the mobility van tricked out with computers and broadband that can be seen cruising LqP County bringing access and hands on support to new computer users in Western Minnesota.

Here’s a little bit more about the event from the Kansas City Star…

Enter the Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund, a new idea to help bridge that digital divide, a chasm that will widen as more of the metro area embraces Google Fiber and other super-fast Internet connections.

Launched Wednesday, the fund — started with $1 million in corporate and foundation gifts —will allow area nonprofit organizations to apply for grants to teach residents how to use digital devices or provide Internet access through computer labs or classes.

And their take on the Computer Commuter…

Planners shared sample grant projects from around the country.

In the rural Minnesota county of Lac qui Parle, a mobile computer lab travels to six communities each week to provide hands-on training and Internet access to residents. Pam Lehmann, executive director of the county’s economic development authority, said it cost about $30,000 to buy and retrofit a used hotel shuttle bus and about $60,000 a year to operate the service.

Pam was on site to talk with the folks in Kansas City. (Her presentation is below.) I work with LqP EDA so it was fun to see the opportunity unfold. Hopefully the folks in Kansas City got some good ideas and hopefully LqP Computer Commuter will get the funding they need to continue on with the effort.

Funny but LqP’s opportunity reminded me of the most recent viral video Ashton Kutcher at some teen awards show when he notes that opportunity looks a lot like hard work. It took a lot of hard work to get the Computer Commuter on the road and a lot of work just to get ready for the Google conference to promote the Computer Commuter. Just a reminder for other communities – it takes hard work but if you spin it as opportunity, it may be easier to take on or sell to a committee!