The West Central Tribune reports on local border to border grants recipients in their area…

Kandiyohi County has finally received the news it has been waiting months to hear. The county was awarded a $4.9 million state Border-to-Border broadband grant to help fund a broadband expansion project in Arctander, Dovre, Lake Andrew, Mamre and St. Johns townships.

“We are so excited. This is years in the making,” said Sarah Swedburg, business development manager for the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission.

The project with Federated Telephone Company will bring high-speed fiber broadband to 343 unserved and 302 underserved properties in the five townships. Once the project is completed, those households, businesses and institutions will have access to symmetrical broadband speeds over the state minimum standards of 100 megabits download and 20 megabits upload. …

The total project cost is estimated at $10 million. The grant will cover half the cost. Federated Telephone has pledged to pay 25% of the total project cost, while Kandiyohi County has dedicated $1.3 million in American Rescue Act Plan dollars. The remainder will be picked up by the townships, Swedburg said.