Category Archives: MN Broadband Equity Profiles 2022

Lake County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 37

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Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Lake County ranks 37 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Their ranking in different demographic tracts are wide ranking – from a low of 67 rank for access to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up and high ranking for educational attainment (high school degree at 14). Lake County has been working on infrastructure and digital training programs for years so they have the local expertise and engagement but it seems with the low ranking in broadband, it would make sense to keep an eye on infrastructure deployment.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Lake County Ranking
Access to 100/20 67
No bachelors 17
No HS degree 14
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 24
Below poverty (last 12 months) 23
Disability 73
No computer 42
No broadband access 53
No subscription 39
Overall average 37

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency Capacity Building — Using Internet Screening to Broaden Family Supports Donation towards introducing the use of an online screening tool for Two Harbors Area Food Shelf patrons that will help identify public programs for which they might qualify as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Northshore Area Partners Internet Training for Seniors Project support to provide internet training to the senior citizens of Lake County as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Lake County Lake County Broadband YouTube Channel Project support to create a Lake County Broadband YouTube channel that will be used to share educational videos that promote digital literacy and the benefits of using broadband technology in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Lake Superior School District #381 Mobile Devices for the Lake Superior School District Project support for mobile devices for the Lake Superior School District as part of the Broadband Program
Lake Superior School District #381 Broadband Community Education Project support for training programs on web and internet tools aimed at multiple demographics in Lake County to increase the technological sophistication of the community as part of the Broadband Program
Lake County Community Web Portal Project support to provide a central online source of information, events and resources for Lake County residents and visitors alike, providing both a unifying force and an economic development tool as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Lake Superior School District #381 Lake County Community Wireless Access Project support to increase public access to the internet, thereby increasing traffic and business for local establishments as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
 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 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 Superior School District #381 PCs for People Project support to provide refurbished computers to low-income families with school-aged children
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
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

 

Lac qui Parle County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 41

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Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Lac qui Parle County ranks 41 out of 87 counties for digital equity. They are in a position where they need to work on the three pillars of digital equity: affordable access to broadband, device ownership and the skills to use them. They have a history of working on infrastructure and digital equity programs so they have engaged leaders and some lessons that they have learned from past projects.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Lac qui Parle County Ranking
Access to 100/20 56
No bachelors 65
No HS degree 30
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 25
Below poverty (last 12 months) 24
Disability 66
No computer 41
No broadband access 21
No subscription 42
Overall average 41

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

More Resources:

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
Lac qui Parle Valley School District Live Stream of School & Community Events Project support to provide Internet live streaming productions for school activities, government meetings and local area events in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Lac qui Parle Valley School District Grades 5-12 One to One Mobile Communication Device Initiative Project support for the District’s move to 1:1 device learning for all students in grades 5-12 as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Lac qui Parle Valley School District Elementary mobile device initiative Project support for the elementary mobile device initiative in the Lac qui Parle school district in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Lac qui Parle Valley School District Engineering Technology Center Project support to create a center with hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with a focus on agriculture as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Lac qui Parle Valley ISD 2853 Pathways to a Knowledgeable Workforce Project support for student career pathways programming

 

 

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation. (LqP participated on more than one Blandin cohort.):

Project Owner Project Name Description
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 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 RDC IT Connect II Project support to maintain a regional IT professional network in the Upper Minnesota Valley region
Upper Minnesota 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
Upper Minnesota Valley RDC Rural Connect Phase II Project support for the Rural Connect Phase II
Project Owner Project Name Description
Big Stone County Public Internet Access Project The Public Internet Access Project will provide online access to government information and resources including forms, county highway project status, and GIS information. Online access will increase awareness, options and citizen control in how they interact with county government.
Dawson / Boyd Schools Community Digital Literacy Community Digital Literacy will connect businesses, community members and students to support the creation of a digitally literate community through a Multimedia Collaboration Center, a Student Tech Team, and a hybrid (online and classroom) Teacher/Community Training Academy.
Johnson Memorial Health Services HomeStream HomeStream will demonstrate the potential for using broadband‐based remote support tools and enhanced family engagement with aging populations to define appropriate visits/hospitalizations and to achieve increased medication adherence for better health outcomes.
Lac qui Parle County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Computer Commuter Computer Commuter is an innovative mobile computer lab that increases the digital literacy of area residents and businesses, advances knowledge workers, and promotes broadband availability and digital inclusion.
Ortonville School / Ortonville EDA Community Broadband Strategies Community Broadband Strategies will increase Internet usage by 1) giving businesses an understanding of the uses and benefits access provides, 2) exposing community members to the information that they can obtain, 3) encouraging a viable economic community and a school system that uses technology, and 4) involving youth in the community’s development, thereby encouraging them to return as adults.
Pioneer Public Television Video on Rural Broadband Use During the first phase of production, Pioneer will be developing a segment of approximately 14 minutes focusing on western Minnesota individuals and organizations affected by a lack of broadband availability.  This segment will be produced in the third and fourth quarter of 2011 for submission to the national public television program, Need to Know, and will form the basis for a longer program of up to 28 minutes.
Upper Minnesota Valley RDC Community Websites This project will assist two cities (Bellingham and Echo) in the creation of community websites.

Kittson County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 67

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Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Kittson County ranks 67 out of 87 counties for digital equity. The standout positive ranking for Kittson is their high school degree, where they rank 7th. The harder rankings relate directly to broadband access. They rank 74 for access to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up; broadband subscriptions rank 85. It makes sense that the subscription rate would be lower when the connections aren’t as good. But the numbers indicate that access to broadband still needs to be a priority  in Kittson.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Kittson County Ranking
Access to 100/20 74
No bachelors 23
No HS degree 7
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 38
Below poverty (last 12 months) 53
Disability 42
No computer 55
No broadband access 67
No subscription 85
Overall average 67

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

Kandiyohi County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 33

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Kanabec County ranks 33 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Kanabec has been working on improving broadband in the community for a while so there are engaged residents and leaders. One standout ranking (no high school degree rank of 81) might be an opportunity make a compelling case to a funder that using technology could help increase education attainment.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Kandiyohi County Ranking
Access to 100/20 29
No bachelors 41
No HS degree 81
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 67
Below poverty (last 12 months) 37
Disability 39
No computer 48
No broadband access 1
No subscription 31
Overall average 33

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
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 & 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 & City of Willmar EDC Willmar Hackfest Project support to promote and host a hackfest in Willmar

 

 

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation. (Kandiyohi County has participated in multiple Blandin cohorts.):

Economic Development Commission Business Website Grant Program Based on successful previously implemented grant program funded through a “Get Broadband” grant from Blandin Foundation, the EDC will allow businesses to apply for matching funds to develop a first-time website for their business or enhance an existing website to be interactive.
New London Spicer School District Wildcat Nation Connected Classroom The “Wildcat Nation Connected Classroom” is a high-tech and information-rich environment for students, staff and community members. The project will install a wireless network in the NLS High School and Middle School along with community access computers in designated areas of the building. In addition, funds will provide an iPad lab in the NLS High School and Middle School Media centers, using the technology to allow for individualized instruction and curriculum to meet the needs and skill level of every user. The iPad lab will also be used as a training center for adult learners with curriculum provided by the schools and delivered through Community Education.  The lab will serve as a pilot program to measure the effectiveness of iPads for future implementation in schools and the overall education setting.
PCs for People Partnership Computers for Low-income PCs for People and KandiComp will provide low–cost computers and digital instruction to broadband disadvantaged persons to improve their quality of life and lessen their digital inclusion through Internet accessibility.  KandiComp will become a satellite location under PCs for People to receive donated computers, “wipe” existing data from the hard drive, completely refurbish the machine and install new software. The computer will be sold to a guidelines-qualified person or family. Education will be provided. Future repairs will be provided for the PCs for People computers at a low, set price.
Willmar Community Senior Network Senior Network The Senior Network will demonstrate and assess the potential of using broadband technologies to engage seniors and connect them with their families to better improve their health, safety and quality of life on a daily basis.  The project will connect the senior’s family members and the Willmar Community Senior Network by providing an easy to use touch screen, all-in-one PC or notebook computer, webcam, and user support as well as training and broadband access, if needed.
MinnWest Technology Campus Technology Classroom Provide a remote learning center for a classroom with interactive communication capabilities for distance education courses, training and continuing education programs and video streaming of conferences and presentations.
Willmar Women & Family Center Computer Access for Education and Employment The Computer Access for Education and Employment Program has been designed to provide new immigrants easy access to computers, broadband Internet and the necessary training on computer, software and Internet usage. The CAEEP will provide a bank of computers in a bi-lingual environment. The Willmar Women & Family Center is a non-political environment where a clan or tribe is not a factor. Through coordination of the curriculum and a strong training program, the existing relationship between the Woman & Family and Workforce center will be enhanced.

 

Kanabec County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 87

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Kanabec County ranks 87 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Being last means they have an opportunity to create a compelling case to funders. They are in a position where they need to work on the three pillars of digital equity: affordable access to broadband, device ownership and the skills to use them. They have a long history of engaged community members and leaders so they may be in a better position to take advantage of this opportunity.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Kanabec County Ranking
Access to 100/20 87
No bachelors 85
No HS degree 74
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 62
Below poverty (last 12 months) 43
Disability 85
No computer 77
No broadband access 70
No subscription 68
Overall average 87

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative Create a network of WiFi hotspots Project support to increase public access to the internet by creating a network of WiFi hotspots throughout the community as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
College of St. Scholastica, Inc. Joined for Health Project support for a partnership between St. Scholastica and FirstLight Health System using telehealth technology to provide pre-surgical patient education and continuing education to Health System’s staff as part of the Broadband Program
Kanabec County Community Portal / Starter Websites and Training Project support to provide training for internet marketing to area businesses, NPOs, and government, and create a community portal for a greater online presence and primary point of entry in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Housing & Redevelopment Authority of Mora Broadband and technology improvements to Life Enrichment Center Project support for broadband and technology improvements to the Life Enrichment Center in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Kanabec Area Chamber Foundation Kanabec Broadband Initiative – Google Places Site Claiming Project support to help local businesses increase and improve their use of online marketing through training and technical support, including accessing the current expertise of local students as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
City of Mora Kanabec Broadband Initiative Tele-Work Center Capital support to provide a public space, equipped with high speed broadband, computer and related technology to support telecommuting and after-school homework as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota

 

 

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation (Kanabec was involved with multiple Blandin community cohorts):

Project Owner Project Name Description
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
Aitkin County Web Diagnostics for Small Businesses, Part II Project support to provide technical assistance to businesses to market their products through online presence and social media
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 curricula and energy management systems
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
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
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
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

Jackson County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 36

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Jackson County ranks 36 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Their ranking for different demographic tracts are interesting. They higher for poverty rates (17 for population living below poverty) while educational attainment ranks lower (44 rank for no high school degree. Access to technology (no computer ranks 29 and no broadband subscription is 36) is right in the middle. They are really in a in a position where they need to work on the three pillars of digital equity: affordable access to broadband, device ownership and the skills to use them. They do have a history of digital inclusion initiatives, so that will help

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Jackson County Ranking
Access to 100/20 35
No bachelors 42
No HS degree 44
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 29
Below poverty (last 12 months) 17
Disability 31
No computer 29
No broadband access 1
No subscription 43
Overall average 36

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
ISD 2907 Round Lake Brewster Purchase Mobile Communication Devices for preschool and ECFE programs Project support to provide access to mobile devices at the schools for P-8 students and their families, and to their local communities through Community Ed classes, open lab time, and Social Media Breakfasts as part of the Broadband Program
Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services Mobile technology for intergenerational use Project support for intergenerational use of technology throughout the Jackson Medical Center to patients and visitors in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Jackson County Library Tablet Access for Everyone Project support to provide increased library access to mobile devices and the internet for individuals, preschools and seniors, and for other organizations on a check-out basis as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Southwest MN Broadband Services Social Media Breakfasts Project support to sustain the educational effort and dialogue around internet-based marketing in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Southwest MN Broadband Services Hot Spots (Wi-Fi for Everyone) Project support to identify and develop local wi-fi hot spots in member communities in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
Southwest MN Broadband Services Online Presence for All Provide educational opportunities, assistance, and ongoing support for businesses, NPO’s, recreational resources, and government entities to develop a deliberate and comprehensive social media presence in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
ISD 330 Heron Lake-Okabena Community Laptop Integration -CLI Capital support to provide access to laptops and the internet, both at the schools for students, and to their local communities through Community Ed classes and open lab time as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
ISD 330 Heron Lake-Okabena Access to a community computer lab and internet hotspots Project support to provide access to a community computer lab and internet hotspots as part of the Broadband Program in rural Minnesota
Southwest MN Broadband Services BCBP 6090 Technology Triangle Project support for the 6090 Technology Triangle project in rural Minnesota as part of the Broadband Program
 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

Itasca County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 48

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Itasca County ranks 48 out of 87 counties for digital equity. They are in a position where they need to work on the three pillars of digital equity: affordable access to broadband, device ownership and the skills to use them. Itasca County is home county of the Blandin Foundation. They have strong history of broadband programming and a continued interest in creating equity in the community. They rank 79th for county population with a disability. That can be a challenge or an opportunity. Using technology to support and lift people with disabilities might be a compelling way to use technology and good way to reach a specific population.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Itasca County Ranking
Access to 100/20 32
No bachelors 47
No HS degree 26
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 55
Below poverty (last 12 months) 66
Disability 79
No computer 51
No broadband access 52
No subscription 48
Overall average 48

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
Itasca Economic Development Corporation Itasca Innovation Project support to spur the innovative use of technology by small businesses in the Itasca area through training, technology business planning and implementation assistance with widespread promotion of successful results as part of the Broadband Program
Itasca Economic Development Corporation Itasca Knowledge Workers Project support for Itasca Area Knowledge Workers program as part of the Broadband Program
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Itasca Community Portal Project support for an Itasca Community Portal where new residents, existing residents and visitors can easily find the information they need in Itasca County as part of the Broadband Program
Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation Itasca Community Portal support Project support to continue implementation and marketing of a collaborative community portal and to create a mobile-friendly version of the portal as part of the Broadband Program. Includes mobile application, kiosk, maintenance and outreach.
Itasca Economic Development Corporation Itasca Knowledge Workers Phase 2 Project support to help Itasca County become a learning community where technology best practices are shared through “Social Media Breakfasts” and utilized to the benefit of area businesses and organizations as part of the Broadband Program
Itasca Economic Development Corporation Itasca Innovation Project Phase 2 Project support for business technology assessments, a Google Place initiative and to assist with capitalizing a loan fund for small businesses to implement technology improvements as part of the Broadband Program in Itasca County
Itasca Economic Development Corporation BBC Alumni Grant Project support to increase the technology sophistication of businesses and organizations through online resources, training and networking
Itasca Economic Development Corporation Itasca Area BBC Alumni II Project support to increase the technological sophistication of businesses and organizations by providing educational and networking opportunities

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation. Itasca County and Grand Rapids participated in multiple Blandin cohorts.):

Elder Circle Senior E-literacy Senior E-literacy will provide seniors in rural Itasca County access to broadband services through basic computer training, skilled service training specific to online banking, and follow-up support.
Grand Rapids Library Shared Portable Computer Lab and Training The Grand Rapids Library will provide computer hardware, software and training to expand the understanding, use and availability of broadband Internet.
Itasca Community Television Public Meeting Streaming Public Meeting Streaming will provide improved community access to government and community information, with hardware improvements that will allow for seamless delivery of video to online viewers, particularly those in rural parts of Itasca County, whom are not served by cable access.
Itasca County Family YMCA YMCA WI-FI Access Project The YMCA WI-FI Access Project will provide computer hardware, software and training to expand the understanding, use and availability of broadband Internet, targeting the senior citizen population utilizing the Bruce Bauer Senior Center.
KOOTASCA Community Action Low-income Computer and Internet Connect Low-income Computer and Internet Connect will provide a computer and a one-year broadband Internet subscription to a minimum of 20 low-income households in Itasca County. KOOTASCA will provide the maximum number of reliable units possible to households selected from a pool of applicants that meet income guidelines (below 150% of the federal poverty guideline for a family of four). KOOTASCA will establish a selection process that provides a preference for providing the units to households that both meet the income qualifications and also assist students, parents with students and/or job seekers. KOOTASCA will be encouraged to obtain reliable computers from PCs for People for use in this project. GREDA will provide KOOTASCA the first 25 computers at no cost through the Federal Grant Award by PCs for People. KOOTASCA will also conduct quarterly follow-up interviews with recipients to measure the effectiveness of the program for the term of this agreement.

 

Isanti County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 45

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Isanti County ranks 45 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Isanti’s ranking for access at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up (25) is better than their overall ranking so infrastructure is not necessarily a top priority. It looks like educational attainment might be an area with lower ranking (high school degree with a ranking of 49 and bachelor’s at 66). This may be an opportunity to use technology improvements to reach and encourage potential students.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Isanti County Ranking
Access to 100/20 25
No bachelors 66
No HS degree 49
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 10
Below poverty (last 12 months) 16
Disability 52
No computer 28
No broadband access 63
No subscription 24
Overall average 45

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

Hubbard County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 39

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Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Hubbard County ranks 39 out of 87 counties for digital equity. They are in a position where they need to work on the three pillars of digital equity: affordable access to broadband, device ownership and the skills to use them. One stand out statistic is the ranking for population with a disability (77) is higher than the rest. That may offer an opportunity for Hubbard to target services to that demographic with training or access to devices with modification to meet a variety of needs. That might be compelling to a funder and help a local population. Also, often supports targeting people with disabilities help other audiences more easily as well.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Hubbard County Ranking
Access to 100/20 40
No bachelors 18
No HS degree 29
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 52
Below poverty (last 12 months) 55
Disability 77
No computer 33
No broadband access 36
No subscription 34
Overall average 39

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Regional Development Commission

Houston County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 19

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Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Houston County ranks 19 out of 87 counties for digital equity. The tract ranking for Houston that stands out for the wrong reason is the access to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up at ranking 55. The other tracts have ranking generally in the top third but access is still an issue. The opportunity is likely there for more but access is still a priority.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Houston County Ranking
Access to 100/20 55
No bachelors 37
No HS degree 8
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 17
Below poverty (last 12 months) 22
Disability 23
No computer 27
No broadband access 58
No subscription 27
Overall average 19

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Hennepin County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 7

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Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Hennepin County ranks 7 out of 87 counties for digital equity. The specific demographic tracts are surprisingly diverse given Hennepin County’s overall ranking of 7. Poverty (rank 60) and lack of high school diploma (52) are lower than other rankings but those might be the opportunity to use technology to make a difference. Better access to technology can bring better educational and career opportunities. That may be compelling to a provider and a focus that may make a difference to residents.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Hennepin County Ranking
Access to 100/20 12
No bachelors 2
No HS degree 52
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 39
Below poverty (last 12 months) 60
Disability 18
No computer 7
No broadband access 3
No subscription 8
Overall average 7

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Grant County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 49

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Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Grant County ranks 49 out of 87 counties for digital equity. They are in a position where they need to work on the three pillars of digital equity: affordable access to broadband, device ownership and the skills to use them. Their ranking for no computer (50) and no home broadband subscription (57) are high, as is their ranking for folks below 150 percent poverty (64). Finding a way to promote federal subsidies to help people afford broadband would  be a start but the opportunity is there for more.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Grant County Ranking
Access to 100/20 58
No bachelors 64
No HS degree 42
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 64
Below poverty (last 12 months) 36
Disability 71
No computer 50
No broadband access 25
No subscription 57
Overall average 49

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Goodhue County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 11

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Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Goodhue County ranks 11 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Goodhue County is home with Red Wing and Red Wing Ignite, which is part of an international movement to encourage use of high speed broadband. They would make good partners in the area. It looks like the individual tracts below indicate that computer ownership, poverty and advanced education are areas might make for a compelling investment.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Goodhue County Ranking
Access to 100/20 22
No bachelors 25
No HS degree 15
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 18
Below poverty (last 12 months) 28
Disability 11
No computer 24
No broadband access 14
No subscription 20
Overall average 11

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Other Resources:

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation:

Project Owner Project Name Description
Red Wing Ignite Innovation to Reality Project support to facilitate and host community-based activities that will create and support a culture of innovation within 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 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 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 Ignite Preparing our Next Generation Part II Project support for the second phase of the Preparing Our Next Generation project (described above)
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 Ignite Technology Networks to Build Local Ecosystem Project support to convene a regional network of IT professionals, improve and promote the co-working spaces at the innovation center, and host regular gatherings of entrepreneurs, startups and others to network and learn.

 

 

There’s a lot to take in but sometimes it’s also helpful to see what a community has done in the past, so we’ve gathered specific projects funded through the Blandin Foundation. (Goodhue communities participated in multiple Blandin cohorts):

Project Owner Project Name Description
Cannon Falls EDA Cannon Falls Local Foods Initiative Project support to define, develop and position a brand that promotes Cannon Falls as the local food capital of Minnesota emphasizing the recreational, scenic, and healthy living assets of the community.
Cannon Falls EDA Digital Marketing for Businesses Project support to promote local business growth and marketing through the use of broadband and technology, including digital marketing, social media, and SEO strategy.
Cannon Rivers & The Gardens senior care centers Wellness VR Project support to promote wellness, stress reduction, and technology use among older adults through the purchase of four virtual reality headsets and virtual field trip subscriptions for use at the Cannon Rivers and The Gardens senior care centers.
Cannon Falls Elementary School “The Candle” Online Newsletter Project support to reignite the elementary school newspaper and engage students in its production through content development, design, editing, and distribution.

 

Freeborn County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 52

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Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Freeborn County ranks 52 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Looking at the different demographic tracts below, it looks like educational attainment ranks lower in Freeborn with high school diploma ranking 80 and bachelor’s ranking 69. This might be an opportunity for the county to create opportunities for potential students to learn remotely or otherwise take advantage of technology to get degrees. That might make a compelling case to funders and engage local residents.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Freeborn County Ranking
Access to 100/20 60
No bachelors 69
No HS degree 80
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 69
Below poverty (last 12 months) 51
Disability 51
No computer 65
No broadband access 2
No subscription 53
Overall average 52

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools

Fillmore County Digital Equity Profile – ranked 59

Posted on by
Reply

Every year, the Blandin on Broadband blog does County Broadband Profiles (and will do again when the new maps come out) but given federal opportunities are making it possible to get funding for access and adoption, I thought I’d try to present information for counties to assess their digital equity standing (see table below) and give options for who to contact locally for more information.

Summary

Fillmore County ranks 59 out of 87 counties for digital equity. Fillmore does not rank well for access to broadband at speeds of 100 Mbps down and 20 up (rank 59), computer ownership (46) or broadband subscription (63). They are also not high ranking for high school degree (67), bachelor’s (44) or poverty rate (57). These rankings aren’t terrible but they could be better. In coming federal funds to help with technology could spur local programs that help residents use technology to increase education and job skills. That might be a compelling case to funder and help improved the community.

Scroll down for details and suggested resources for more information.

Blandin Foundation is using the Microsoft Digital Equity Tool to determine needs by county and make high level recommendations for next steps to consider based on the data. (With special thanks to Carter Grupp, Broadband Coordinator Broadband Coordinator at American Connection Project for Otter Tail County.) Visit the tool if you want to look up more statistics on your community.

Demographic Data and Ranking (out of 87)

Fillmore County Ranking
Access to 100/20 59
No bachelors 44
No HS degree 67
Below 150% poverty (last 12 months) 40
Below poverty (last 12 months) 57
Disability 22
No computer 46
No broadband access 43
No subscription 63
Overall average 59

The map below shows digital inequity by census tract. The bluer the better; yellow and orange colors indicate more inequity. This map can be helpful in figuring out which parts of your county need the most help.

So where do you go to talk to people in the county about digit equity plans? Good places to start include:

Libraries

Schools