I’m pleased to share a list of Blandin Broadband Community Projects. It’s fun to see what’s going on in Minnesota. It’s fun to get some good ideas for your community. The best way to view the list is probably the PDF – but I’m going to try to cut and paste the information as well, knowing that the transfer to the website is not always pretty – because it is searchable and that’s worth something too!
| Community | Project Owner | Project Name | Project Description |
| Carlton County | Carlton County | Carlton County Robust Network Feasibility Study | Project support to conduct a feasibility study to understand options for improving broadband infrastructure and services within the county |
| Carlton County | City of Moose Lake | Connect Moose Lake | Project support to expand the Moose Lake Community Digital Messaging System to other community entities enabling them to broadcast messages on the public |
| Carlton County | Cloquet Public Library | “Appy Life“ Library iPad Training project | Project support to provide mobile technology, Wi-Fi access and training to staff, county residents and visitors of the three Carlton County libraries |
| Carlton County | ISD 94 (Cloquet) | iPads for Lifelong Learning | Project support for technology training and resources for enrichment activities and parenting skills to pre-K students and families |
| Carlton County | Moose Lake Community Schools | Rural Education Community Utilization Expansion | Project support to provide mobile devices to two rural school districts to increase educational attainment and to provide technology training through community education |
| Carlton County | Moose Lake Community Schools | School Bus Wi-Fi Hot Spots | Capital support to equip school activity busses with Wi-Fi to provide access for students to be able to work on homework assignments when travelling long distances |
| Central Woodlands | Aitkin County | Web Diagnostics for Small Businesses | Project support to increase the knowledge and use of e-commerce and social media tools for small businesses in Aitkin County |
| Central Woodlands | Aitkin County | Central Woodlands Web Diagnostics for Small Businesses | Project support to provide technical assistance to businesses to market their products through online presence and social media |
| Central Woodlands | Audubon Center of the North Woods | Online Public Access to Energy Data | Project support to connect various alternative energy facilities into a unified network for data collection and analysis for integration into curriculum and energy management systems |
| Central Woodlands | Depot Studios | Expanding Access and Learning Opportunities | Project support to provide computer access with a Wi-Fi hotspot at an artist, craft and entrepreneurial center in Isle |
| Central Woodlands | East Central RDC | Broadband Inventory and Assessment | Project support to conduct an analysis of the region’s existing broadband assets and services to inform community leaders about potential gaps and opportunities |
| Central Woodlands | East Central RDC | Township Broadband Enhancements | Project support to work with up to five rural townships to identify and implement broadband solutions providing public access in areas with little to no existing broadband access |
| Central Woodlands | Isle Recreation and Education Center | Expanding Technology and Educational Opportunities | Project support to provide computer classes and a wi-fi public access site in the Mille Lacs lakes area |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Community Outreach | Project support to mobilize community stakeholders to gather and share information about existing and proposed broadband services and to develop and implement broadband improvement strategies |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Community Survey and Outreach | Project support to conduct a combined community survey and outreach effort to spur interest and action around broadband networks and services |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Google Mapping Assistant | Project support to increase the number of local businesses that have an online presence |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Old Hwy 61 Grant | Project support to inventory, map and showcase businesses and attractions along Old Highway 61 through online web and mobile devices |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Quality Tech Training for Businesses | Project support to design, promote and conduct multiple e-commerce/social media training sessions throughout the county |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Teleconference Equipment Grant | Capital support for two video conference systems to enable distance learning for the county, local residents, businesses and organizations |
| Chisago County | Chisago County HRA-EDA | Wi-Fi Hot Spots | Capital support to create 8-10 Wi-Fi hot spots across Chisago County for enhanced public access |
| Chisago County | Chisago Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce | Chisago Lakes Community Website | Project support to create and maintain a multi-community/area web site to serve visitors and residents with information on activities, attractions and community events |
| Chisago County | Chisago Lakes School District 2144 | Chisago County Community Mobile Wi-Fi | Project support to provide Wi-Fi on school buses to enable more productive use of student time on long bus rides to and from school activities and to provide free Wi-Fi at community events |
| Martin County | ISD 2752 Fairmont Community Education and Recreation | Fairmont Area Community Calendar | Project support to develop and market a shared community calendar and facilities scheduler |
| Martin County | Martin County | App Camp | Project support for a technology learning workshop on mobile app creation for students |
| Martin County | Martin County | Create Network of Wi-Fi Hotspots Throughout the County | Project support to create a network of Wi-Fi hotspots throughout Martin County |
| Martin County | Martin County | Robust Network Feasibility Fund Grant | Project support for a feasibility study to choose and prioritize programs and initiatives to stimulate development of state-of-the-art broadband networks throughout Martin County |
| Martin County | Martin County | Social Media and Online Presence Skill Training for Business | Project support to provide businesses in the Martin County area relevant training in social media and online presence |
| Martin County | Martin County | Technology Education and Training | Project support to provide broadband technology training opportunities for Martin County residents |
| Martin County | Martin County EDA | Devices for Martin County Schools | Capital support to provide a variety of devices for local school districts allowing them to upgrade their use of technology |
| Nobles County | Independent School District 518 (Worthington area) | Community-Wide Reading Through myON Digital Library | Project support to implement the use of the myON digital library in the Worthington area for the benefit of preschoolers and their families |
| Nobles County | Independent School District 518 (Worthington area) | Digital Inclusion Through Community Ed | Project support for online marketing, technology and digital literacy training for area residents |
| Nobles County | Minnesota West Community & Technical College – Worthington | Introduction to Digital Literacy | Project support to develop a two-credit college course on digital literacy targeted toward high school and college students |
| Nobles County | Nobles County | BAC Fiber Access | Project support to bring fiber to the Biotechnology Advancement Center (BAC), its teleconferencing room, and the business incubators in the Worthington Industrial Park |
| Nobles County | Nobles County | Feasibility Study | Project support to conduct a feasibility study to gather information and provide a decision making path for local officials to meet the goal of ubiquitous broadband coverage across Nobles County |
| Nobles County | Nobles County | NEON Hot Spots | Project support to provide more accessible, reliable and affordable access to internet services for the rural residents of Nobles County |
| Nobles County | Nobles County Integration Collaborative | Digital Literacy for Diverse Communities | Project support to provide digital literacy training for diverse communities via a train-the-trainer approach (ethnic leaders will learn to teach basic computer skills in their native language) |
| Nobles County | Nobles County Library | iPads for Public Use | Capital support for mobile devices within two branches of the Nobles County Library for patron usage and check out to community groups and preschools |
| Red Wing | Red Wing Ignite | Innovation to Reality | Project support to facilitate and host activities that will create and support a culture of innovation within Red Wing |
| Red Wing | Red Wing Ignite | Marketing of Red Wing | Project support to create opportunity by branding and marketing Red Wing to attract people, talent and investment |
| Red Wing | Red Wing Ignite | Marketing Red Wing in 2016 | Project support for a unified marketing and branding initiative across all key stakeholder organizations in Red Wing |
| Red Wing | Red Wing Ignite | Preparing our Next Generation | Project support to engage community youth in technology skills and discover opportunities within Red Wing for employment and entrepreneurship |
| Red Wing | Red Wing Ignite | STEAM in our Schools | Project support to strengthen Red Wing School District’s STEAM education by facilitating community partnerships with existing Red Wing technology-oriented companies |
| Red Wing | Red Wing Ignite | Technology Networks to Build Local Ecosystem | Project support to convene business innovation networks and provide resources to fuel innovation in Red Wing |
| Redwood County | Red Rock Central School | 3D Printing, Windows 10 & Office 2013 Training | Project support to provide technology training to students, residents, and businesses of the Lamberton area of Redwood County |
| Redwood County | Redwood Area Development Corporation | Marketing Broadband and Training Opportunities | Project support to market and promote the new Technology Training Center and Lunch N Learn technology classes for area residents and businesses while promoting the need for better broadband |
| Redwood County | Redwood Area Hospital | Telemedicine / Health Pilot | Project support to utilize telemedicine and other services that leverage broadband networks to provide advanced and specialized medical care for the convenience of southwest Minnesota residents |
| Redwood County | Redwood Area School District | Adult Education – Lunch & Learn Technology Series | Project support to provide a series of computer/internet classes for residents and businesses of Redwood County |
| Redwood County | Redwood Area School District | Early Childhood Family Education SMART Boards | Capital support to provide current educational technology to preschoolers and their parents to enhance learning and readiness for kindergarten |
| Redwood County | Redwood County | GIS to the Public | Project support to provide Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to the public via the internet, creating efficiencies for both county staff and the public |
| Redwood County | Redwood County | Training Facility for Redwood County Citizens and Employees | Project support equip a training lab in the courthouse to provide a venue for technology training for the general public, employers and Redwood County employees |
| Redwood County | Redwood Falls Public Library | Computer Upgrades | Capital support to update technology for patron usage (so all community members have access to the latest technology) |
| Resilient Region | Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp | Enhanced Marketing of Our Technology Sector | Project support to implement the Tech Services marketing plan |
| Resilient Region | Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp | High-Tech Center Research and “Next Steps” Outline | Project support to determine the feasibility/strategy to create and sustain a high tech Live/Work Center in the Brainerd Lakes region |
| Resilient Region | Brainerd Lakes Area Development Corp | Video Conferencing System | Capital support for video conferencing equipment for use by area businesses and organizations in CTC Technology Room at the BLAEDC/Chamber Offices |
| Resilient Region | Essentia Health Foundation | Launch Telehealth Development & Implementation | Project support to provide tele-health training sessions in Resilient Region Five’s five-county area and on the Leech Lake Reservation as part of the Broadband Program |
| Resilient Region | ISD 181 – Brainerd Public Schools | CTC Schools Technology Bundle | Project support for technology and mobile devices in the Early Childhood and Family Education programs |
| Resilient Region | MN State Community & Tech College-Wadena | “What the Tech?” Technology Expo | Project support to host a one-day tech expo event in Wadena that will combine active learning by MNSCU students and displays and seminars for the general public |
| Resilient Region | The Brainerd Baxter Youth Center | PCs for People Youth Project | Project support to continue to train youth to refurbish computers and distribute them to low-income families in the Brainerd area |
| RS Fiber | City of Gaylord | Tech Center Marketing and Planning Project | Project support to market the concept of tech centers/maker spaces across the Renville/Sibley Fiber area and determine the feasibility/market demand/next steps in the development process |
| RS Fiber | Gibbon Fairfax Winthrop Schools ISD 2365 | Wi-Fi on Buses | Project support to outfit school buses with Wi-Fi to enable more productive use of student time on long bus rides to and from school activities, and to provide free Wi-Fi at community events |
| RS Fiber | Joseph R Brown Heritage Society | Community Applications | Project support to create an e-marketing platform and tourism apps for communities in the Renville/Sibley Fiber Project area |
| RS Fiber | Joseph R Brown Heritage Society | Community Wi-Fi Project | Capital support to create 26 Wi-Fi hot spots in five communities in Renville and Sibley counties |
| RS Fiber | Sibley County | Business and Resident Computer Training | Project support to provide computer and online technology training to area residents and businesses |
| RS Fiber | Sibley County | Marketing in a Digital World | Project support to connect local businesses with high school students to increase the online activity of the businesses while businesses provide real-life training opportunities for students |
| RS Fiber | Sibley County | Website and Social Media Development | Project support to provide one-on-one consulting assistance to local small businesses as they develop and implement enhanced online presence and social media strategies |
| Sherburne County | Becker Youth Sports Association | Becker BAC Internet Access Project | Capital support to build fiber and install wireless networking equipment to provide visitors with broadband access |
| Sherburne County | City of Big Lake | Lakeside Park Wi-Fi | Project support to install Wi-Fi access points at the Big Lake City Park to provide public internet access and for community events as part of the Broadband Program for rural MN |
| Sherburne County | City of Elk River | Downtown Rivers Edge Commons Park Public Wi-Fi Project | Capital support for Wi-Fi access in downtown Elk River |
| Sherburne County | City of Elk River | Elk River – Zimmerman Fiber Connection | Capital support to extend an existing City of Elk River fiber network from Zimmerman School to Zimmerman City Hall to provide fiber-based broadband to the tenants and users of City Hall campus |
| Sherburne County | Independent School District 728 | ISD 728 Expansion of Public Access to Broadband | Project support to increase public Internet access by opening the Community Education Center an additional 240 hours on nights and weekends |
| Sherburne County | Sherburne County | RNFF Feasibility Grant | Project support to complete a broadband feasibility study in Sherburne County that will identify needs, existing services and infrastructure, and partnership and operations options |
| Sherburne County | Sherburne County | Sherburne County Broadband Coalition | Project support to do research and create a shared marketing program to engage citizens and elected officials around the concept of improving broadband services in Sherburne County |
| Sherburne County | Sherburne County | Sherburne History Center Broadband Service | Project support to provide public access to computers in the Sherburne County Historical Building and equip a community meeting room with appropriate technology, including a robust Wi-Fi network |
| Sherburne County | Spectrum High School | Chromebooks for Spectrum | Capital support for classroom technology |
| Alumni Communities: | |||
| Cook County | County of Cook | Broadband Connections | Project support to expand county Wi-Fi access through creating and maintaining public hotspot and video conferencing locations |
| Cook County | County of Cook | Co-Working facility | Project support to create a co-working center in Grand Marais that will provide space for entrepreneurs and tele-workers to congregate and work using the fiber optic network and center equipment |
| Fond du Lac Band | Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | “App Camp” Application Creation Workshop | Project support for two sessions of a two-week technology learning workshop on mobile app creation for students |
| Fond du Lac Band | Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | Network Extension | Capital support for classroom technology to enhance staff professional development and encourage collaboration between school staff, students and community members |
| Fond du Lac Band | Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa | Tablets for Community Ed | Project support to allocate appropriate devices to reservation community centers to increase technology knowledge and use through training programs, outreach and service delivery |
| Itasca Area | Itasca Economic Development Corporation | BBC Alumni Grant | Project support to increase the technology sophistication of businesses and organizations through online resources, training and networking as part of the Broadband Program in Itasca County |
| Kandiyohi County | Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar EDC | Connecting with Wi-Fi | Project support to increase Wi-Fi access in Kandiyohi County by installing access points on busses, a mobile daycare center and at the community center |
| Kandiyohi County | Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar EDC | Robust Network Feasibility Study | Project support to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of a new Fiber to the Premise network throughout Kandiyohi County |
| Kandiyohi County | Kandiyohi County & City of Willmar EDC | Willmar Hackfest | Project support to promote and host a hackfest in Willmar |
| Lac qui Parle Valley School District | Lac qui Parle Valley ISD 2853 | Pathways to a Knowledgeable Workforce | Project support for student career pathways programming |
| Lake County | Community Partners, Two Harbors: Living at Home Block Nurse Program | Using Tablets to Help Senior Citizens Access Healthcare Information | Donation to provide senior citizens of Lake County with access to online health information through the use of mobile devices and staff assistance |
| Lake County | Lake Superior School District #381 | Lake County Telepresence | Project support to implement and promote distance learning opportunities in Lake County for students, teachers, and community members |
| Lake County | Lake Superior School District #381 | PCs for People | Project support to provide refurbished computers to low-income families with school-aged children |
| Lake County | Two Harbors Community Radio | Leveraging Broadband to Web Stream | Project support to provide live streaming capacity for Two Harbors Community Radio, allowing interested listeners to hear broadcasts beyond the limited reach of the FM signal |
| Lake County | Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center | Broadband Upgrade for Education | Capital support to provide reliable, high-speed internet access to promote the learning of K-12 students, graduate school students and community members visiting Wolf Ridge |
| Lake of the Woods County | Lake of the Woods School ISD 390 | Lake of the Woods School Digital Expansion Project | Project support to increase access to technology for students and area residents |
| Lake of the Woods County | Pioneer Youth Center | Baudette Youth Broadband Expansion | Project support to provide interactive learning experiences for at-risk youth through access to full Wi-Fi to enhance student success |
| Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe | Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe | LLBO Replicates “The Shop” | Project support to create a tribal computer refurbishment program that will provide refurbished computers to Leech Lake Band members while also providing job and skills training |
| Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe | Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe | Leech Lake Temporary Employment Program | Project support to continue and expand the Temporary Employment Program-hosted digital literacy program at four locations on the Leech Lake Reservation |
| Mille Lacs County | Mille Lacs County | Community Education, Outreach and Demand Survey | Project support to conduct educational outreach and “take rate” survey of County residents to develop a business plan for a fiber ring/wireless network for rural Mille Lacs County |
| Mille Lacs County | Mille Lacs County | Feasibility Study Part 1: Detailed Fiber to the Tower Wireless Study | Project support for a feasibility study of using a wireless broadband system throughout the county as a part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota |
| Mille Lacs County | Mille Lacs County | Feasibility Study Part 2 | Project support to facilitate implementation of a county-wide broadband feasibility study to review existing network services and infrastructure, market demand and technology alternatives for broadband |
| Mille Lacs County | Mille Lacs County | Technology Training | Project support to provide a series of technology workshops to increase the online presence of businesses via websites and social media |
| Southwest MN Broadband Services | 60/90 Corridor Initiative | 60/90 Corridor Initiative | Project support to promote collaborative economic development activities through the use of social media and internet-based marketing and sales tools |
| Stevens County | Chokio-Alberta Public Schools | Chokio-Alberta Schools | Project support to prepare students to work in a technology-based future through exposure to career opportunities and insight/attainment into the necessary skill sets for those jobs |
| Stevens County | Hancock Public Schools | Chromebooks for School and Community | Project support to provide technology training to students and community members |
| Stevens County | ISD 2769 Morris Area School | One to the World | Project support to fully integrate technology into classrooms for each learner through internet access and mobile devices |
| Upper Minnesota Valley | Upper Minnesota Valley RDC | Public Sector Broadband Feasibility Study | Project support for a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a fiber network connecting all public buildings in the Upper Minnesota Valley Region |
| Upper Minnesota Valley | Upper Minnesota Valley RDC | Regional Technology Team | Project support to create a regional IT professional network to ignite cross-industry collaborations so the region can fully integrate technology in day-to-day efforts and large scale planning efforts |
| Upper Minnesota Valley | Upper MN Valley RDC | Rural Connect | Project support to create a shared marketing message and implementation strategy for the region in an effort to attract people and investment |