The Echo Press reported on the broadband grants in Douglas County…
The first one is for a “fiber-to-the-home” project in the Country Estates development north of Lake Louise in northwest Alexandria and totals $101,624. The project will serve 32 unserved households and 10 unserved businesses.
The cost of the project that’s eligible for state funds is $225,830, with a $124,206 local match.
The second project, which received a $54,155 grant, will will take place in the Pospisil Drive development near Alexandria. It will serve 18 unserved households and six unserved businesses. The project will continue a build-out of broadband services that started last year.
The total eligible cost is $120,345, with a $66,190 local match.
In a funding partnership with the state, Gardonville will improve broadband service levels in both areas to 1 billion bits per second, or Gbps, for downloading and uploading, exceeding the state’s 2026 speed goal.
Rep. Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, issued a statement about the grants. He noted that areas in his district will benefit, including Albany ($616,743 in grants), Minnewaska Area ($4,996,791) and the Pospisil Drive development ($54,155).
“It is good to see local groups were successful in earning some of the grant money the Legislature provided to expand internet access in Greater Minnesota,” Anderson said in an e-mail. “I look forward to seeing these projects bring up to speed households and businesses that have been unable to enjoy reliable online service.”
They also mention projects in Pope and Todd County…
The grant in the Minnewaska Area will go to Hanson Communications. It’s a fiber-to-the-premises project that will serve unserved and underserved locations in Pope County, including 274 unserved households and 535 unserved businesses; and 468 underserved households and 181 underserved businesses and 11 underserved community institutions.
The total eligible cost is $11,460,530, with a $6,463,739 local match.
Also, West Central Telephone Association will receive a grant of $902,695 for a project in northern Todd County. The project will serve 209 unserved households and six unserved businesses within portions of Staples Township and Villard Township.
The total eligible cost is $1,805,390, with a $902,695 local match.
