Each month the Blandin Foundation hosts two conversation or lunch bunch sessions. The first Lunch Bunch in June happens next week on June 9. Here’s the topic:

Blandin Foundation has created a unique approach to community broadband planning this spring by working intensively with four communities – Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe/Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, Kanabec County, Aitkin County/Aitkin County Growth and Pine County.  The regional concentration of un- and underserved communities in the east central area has provided an unplanned opportunity for regional collaboration.  Each community recruited a team of at least eight leaders to commit to work on broadband for a 16 week period that is nearing completion.  The teams meet every Friday morning as a cohort to discuss a key aspect of community broadband planning.  Participants watch an archived topic-focused webinar and then have the chance to ask questions of a broadband expert.  The teams worked together on a broadband survey that has almost 3,000 responses and continues to work together on community messaging. Join us for a brief presentation about this process and how it might work in your community and/or region at our Blandin Broadband Lunch Bunch on Wednesday, June 9 at noon.  Register now!