1. Itasca Area
Blandin Broadband Community (IABBC)
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2. The Itasca Area
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3. Integrated strategies to improve the use of Broadband
Expanding the USE of broadband technology for Itasca
County business
Social Media Breakfasts
(Discover Social Media)
I.T. Professionals
Network
(connecting I.T.
resources)
Community Portal
(Community
engagement)
Business Technology
Assessments & Loan
Program (transform
your web presence)
Social Media training
(improve knowledge
and use)
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4. • Traveled to 122 small businesses in the
surrounding towns
• Visited businesses in Bovey (3), Bigfork (8),
Cohasset (4), Coleraine (9), Deer River (11), Grand
Rapids (67), Hill City (3), Marcell (3), Nashwauk
(5), Pengilly (1), and Remer (8) across Itasca
County
• Highly effective strategy to cross-market all Itasca
Area Broadband programs
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Student Intern Business Outreach

5. Social Media Breakfasts
(SMB: Last Tuesday of every month)
• Local and non-local
speakers
• Interactive and
engaging
• Attendance ranging
from 20-45 per
meeting, even when
it’s 30 below!

6. Technology Assessments

7. Business Technology Assessments
What businesses are saying…
“We have a more
organized approach
to improve our
online and social
media marketing.”
“Fabulous input – very
helpful. They understand
the small business
challenges of
implementing effective
Social Media
advertising.”
“Nice to have hands-on
help for social
media “crisis
management.” If we
have a glitch, it’s nice
to know you’re there.”
“Through this process, I
was encouraged to
think about my logo
and how it might be
limiting my growth.”
“Nice to have an objective
look at our strategies and
tools. It’s hard to evaluate
something effectively
when you look at it every
day.”
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8. I.T. Professionals Network
• Representatives from businesses and organizations
– Itasca County
– City of Grand Rapids
– Magnetation
– ICC
– Grand Itasca Clinic & Hospital
– MNSTAR
– Blandin Foundation
– Essar Steel
– Lake Country Power
– Bigfork Valley Hospital
– MCIS
– And more …
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9. Community Portal
• Stronger Marketing Collaborative for Itasca Communities
• Create NEW Digital Marketing Strategies
• Brand Marketing…”It’s in Minnesota’s nature”
www.minnesotasnature.com
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10. Social Media/Online Marketing Training
Goal: To bring a deeper level of Social Media
education and hands on training to
Itasca Area businesses.
• 100+ Total Attendees
• Attendees ranged
from small
businesses to bigger
companies across a
variety of industries

11. Social Media Training
We offered 12 classes including:
• Facebook Basics for Business
• Marketing with Twitter
• Understanding Google Analytics
• Advanced Facebook
• Social Media Strategy
• Blogging for Business
• Making Money Online
Provided eBook, video and worksheet
resources

12. Lessons Learned
 To move forward effectively, strategy is key
 Grassroots leadership enables sustainability
 Program alignment is vital
 Face to face contact is best
 Always meet people where they’re at
 Timing can be everything