Hot off the presses from DEED…

Need more information and have questions about the 2015 Broadband Grant Program? Over the next two weeks, the Minnesota Office of Broadband will host webinars on the 2015 Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program to discuss the 2015 grant program, the application process, and answer any questions. Grant applications are due on September 15, 2015.

The first webinar will be held on Monday, August 24, 2015, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central Time). The second webinar, a repeat of the first, will be held on Monday, August 31, also from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Central Time).

To register to attend the webinars, please send an email with your contact information to Jane Leonard, Broadband Grants Administrator, at jane.leonard@state.mn.us . Please indicate which (or both webinars) you will be attending. You will be sent instructions on how to access the webinar.

Quick Summary: The Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program funds the build-out of infrastructure to promote the expansion of broadband service to areas of Minnesota that are unserved or underserved. It was established by the 2014 Minnesota Legislature to assist with costly broadband deployment projects that might not occur without public financial assistance. In this 2015 grant round, $10.3 million is available. Priority is given to projects that leverage greater amounts of funding from other private and public sources. The state grant limit per project is $5 million and cannot exceed 50% of the total eligible costs of the project.  All grant project work must be completed by June 30, 2017.

More information about the grant program, and the grant application, is available at http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/grant-program/index.jsp.