The document announces that the Blandin Foundation is committing $1.5 million over the next two years to support rural broadband development in Minnesota through their Blandin Community Broadband Program, which will select 10 communities to receive funding and technical assistance for locally-developed broadband projects aimed at digital inclusion, network feasibility, enabling innovation, and more.

1. A New Opportunity to Thrive
BLANDIN COMMUNITY
BROADBAND PROGRAM

6. Community.

7. A look back at
BLANDIN’S BROADBAND WORK

8. Through the years,
Blandin Foundation has…
• Created a Strategy Board and adopted a
Broadband Vision and set of Principles
• Convened stakeholders
• Worked in over 60 communities and 80
organizations across the state to implement
hundreds of community-based broadband
projects
• Leveraged over $8M in local, state and federal
dollars from a direct investment of $250,000

9. The goals have stood the test of time:
• Increase awareness of benefits of broadband
• Support local broadband development efforts
• Increase investment in broadband
access, adoption, and utilization

10. The Vision
To ensure a high quality of life and a globally
competitive future for its citizens, businesses and
communities, Minnesota is committed to making
the necessary investments to become a world
leader in the universal deployment and use of
ultra high-speed next generation broadband.

11. MN Intelligent Rural Communities
• Enabled by a $4.8 million dollar federal grant
• Uses the Intelligent Community framework
• Statewide Partners
• 11 Demonstration Communities

12. MIRC Partners

13. Intelligent Community Framework
The ICF Virtuous Cycle
KNOWLEDGE INNOVATION
B WORKFORCE M
R A
O R
A K
D E
B T
A I
N N
DIGITAL INCLUSION
D G

14. MIRC Elements of Success
• Local champions
• Recognition that
broadband is a tool
for problem solving
and marketing the
work accordingly
• Cross-sector
partnerships leading
to innovative
practices
• Tenacity – this work
takes time

15. A New Opportunity to Thrive
BLANDIN COMMUNITY
BROADBAND PROGRAM

16. A continued commitment to rural
broadband development
• The Blandin Foundation Board of Trustees has
committed $1.5 million in grant funds over the
next two years to support the Foundation’s
continued commitment to broadband
development in greater Minnesota.

17. Program Elements
• Recruitment and support of 10 Blandin
Broadband Communities
• Project Grant Funds
• Technical Assistance and leadership support
• Policy development and advocacy
• Convening
• Information support

18. Blandin Broadband Communities
• 10 communities will receive:
– Research and benchmarking
– Planning and technical assistance
– The opportunity to apply for up to $100,000 in
grant funds to support locally developed projects

19. Grant Programs
– Digital Inclusion Community Partnership
• Devices, training and access for those without
– Robust Network Feasibility Fund
• Analyzing options for improving connectivity
– LightSpeed
• Enabling broadband-based innovation
– Broadband Innovation Grants
• A flexible fund to support communities with priority
projects

20. Blandin Broadband Communities:
Important Dates
• August 7
– Application instructions released
• October 15
– Application deadline
• November 13-14
– Public announcement of selected communities at
Building our Connected Future Broadband Conference
• January
– Kick-off meeting with selected communities

21. Places to Receive More Information
– Online
• Blandin on Broadband blog
www.blandinonbroadband.org
• Blandin Broadband website
http://broadband.blandinfoundation.org
– In Person
• Mary Magnuson
memagnuson@blandinfoundation.org
218-326-0523