Duluth News Tribune posts letter from DEED Commissioner Steve Grove on the impact of COVID-19…

One thing the pandemic has made abundantly clear is that reliable high-speed internet access isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Business owners and families alike have relied on access for everything from meetings to distance learning. Not having broadband access isn’t only an inconvenience; it can reduce a person’s ability to work and hamper a student’s learning. DEED’s Border to Border Broadband Program grants are targeted toward nonmetro Minnesota communities where broadband infrastructure is not at the level needed to support economic opportunity. Since 2014, the Border to Border Broadband Program has invested $108 million across Minnesota through 140 projects, which have connected nearly 50,000 homes, businesses, farms, and community institutions. Those who’ve benefited have included 10,426 Northeastern Minnesotans.

I’m looking forward to my upcoming visit to Duluth as part of a series of visits in an economic-recovery listening tour. During this critical time, I’m honored to work with Minnesota’s business and community leaders to serve our fellow Minnesotans. I look forward to hearing what we can do better — together.