More than 1,800 more homes and businesses could obtain access to high-speed broadband internet if three new expansion projects can collect the funding needed to make the project possible.
Mark Boeschen, the chair of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission Broadband Committee, attended the Nov. 21 meeting of the Kandiyohi County Board . Boeschen requested the board’s support to apply for state Border to Border broadband grant funding, as well as approval to dip into the over $6 million the county has set aside in American Rescue Plan Act funding to help pay for broadband projects.
“We are not asking for any additional funds, just to use the funds available,” Boeschen said.
The first project would cover areas in Lake Andrew, Colfax, Norway Lake, St. Johns and Dovre townships, with approximately 1,292 passes, or properties close enough to connect to the main fiber line. The project would see all of Lake Andrew, Colfax and St. Johns covered.
The estimated cost for the entire project is $16,412,703. The EDC committee is applying for a state grant for 50 percent of the cost, while service provider Federated Telephone Cooperative will contribute 25 percent of the cost. The townships as a whole will put in 10 percent while the county’s American Rescue Plan Act allocation will cover the remaining 15 percent.
The second project would complete broadband coverage of Gennessee, Fahlun and Kandiyohi townships, minus the areas already considered served by the state definition, which is access to broadband speeds of 100 megabits per second download and 20 Mbps upload.
The project would have 494 passes and cost around $4,241,573. The EDC is applying again for 50 percent of the cost from the state program. Vibrant, the service provider, will again provide 25 percent of the cost. However, the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds will pay for 20 percent of the project, as the townships cover the remaining 5 percent.
The third project discussed at the County Board meeting would complete broadband access to Lake Lillian Township with 87 passes. It would cost around $1,456,074. The state grant ask would be for 75 percent of the cost, due to the low population of the area.
“It meets the requirement of a low-density project, so we can ask for additional funding from the state,” Boeschen said.
Vibrant would put in 13 percent, the county 10 percent with the township paying for the final 2 percent of the cost.
The application deadline for the state grant program is Dec. 7, so the EDC committee is working hard to get all the needed paperwork, including the letters of support from the County Board, completed and in ready to send off.
