The Sherburne County Broadband Coalition was formed to address the lack of broadband access identified as an economic issue. A survey found 60% felt it put them at a competitive disadvantage. The coalition received over 20 letters of support and focused on public-private partnerships. They received a Community Outreach Grant, installed wireless access points in parks, ran fiber to buildings, purchased devices, and educated officials and residents on the importance of broadband.

2. • Economic Development Strategic Plan identified that Countywide
Broadband was an issue
• 2014 local survey indicated 60% of the total respondents felt the
current telecommunication services in the area put them in a
competitive disadvantage
• We applied to become a BBC and the Sherburne County Broadband
Coalition was formed
• Over 20 Letters of Support within a week
• Focused on Public/Private partnerships

3. Albert Kangas Palmer Wireless
Laura Kangas Palmer Wireless
Barb Chaffee Central MN Jobs and Training
Brian Kamman Sherburne County IT Department
Amanda Othoudt Elk River Economic Development Director
Charlie Blesener ISD 728
Dan Weber Sherburne County ED
Debbi Rydberg Elk River Chamber of Commerce
George Wallin Wallin Advisement
Greg Pruszinske City of Becker Administrator
Janet Barlage Sherburne County Veterans Services
Jeannette Burkhardt Becker Library (GRRL)
Joe Samek ISD 728
Jolene Foss Princeton Community Development
Paul Solsrud CNS
Kevin Thompson Data Success
Kyle Breffle Emergency Services Director
Mike Brubaker Sherburne County History Center
Rick Hendrickson Becker City Council
Scott Zettervall Local Resident
Lori Amborn The Amborn Group
Raeanne Danielowski Big Lake Mayor
Colleen Eddy City of Elk River
Micheal Brust Guardian Angels

4.  Number one priority was to highlight the need and educate the
decision makers on the importance of broadband to the local
community

5.  This led to the Community Outreach Grant
 Many other ideas were brought forward
 Each was discussed and a group vote was taken on
all grant submissions

6.  Community Wide Support – over 65 community leaders
attended community vision meeting
 Consistent Engagement – Bi-Monthly Committee meetings
were always well attended
 Elected Official Support – State, County, City, Township
 The Blandin Broadband Program established relationships
that went beyond Broadband.
 The local press helped us publicize successes.
 We need to focus on upload numbers. Download speed is
for consumption but upload speed is production.

7.  Local legislators became very involved – two separate town
halls were held
 Providers had varying degrees of interest in the program
 Fiber exists – however not always accessible
 Large Demand for People for PC’s computers.

8.  Community wide Broadband Outreach program created
 Year Round Wireless installed at the Becker Athletic Complex
 Year Round Wireless installed at Lake Side Park
 Year Round Wireless installed at Rivers Edge Park
 Fiber Install to the Sherburne County History Center
 Extended computer lab hours in the Elk River School District
 Chromebooks were purchased by Spectrum High School for their community
learning curriculum
 A fiber install connected Elk City Hall to the Zimmerman City Hall and Fire
Department

9. • We hired a marketing firm to:
• Create a marketing “Brand” for our group
• Develop a webpage
• Create Educational Materials
• Write educational bi-weekly broadband related blogs
• Created promotional items to hand out at various events
• Our group then:
• Contacted our Federal, State and Local Elected Officials
• Created a Facebook Page
• Created an Educational Video Broadband Access
• Attended Various Community Events & local meetings
• Posted the educational blogs to the Sherband and Facebook
webpages

12.  .

14. "We are excited to be able to
provide our residents a public
space to access high speed
wireless internet!” - Big Lake
Mayor Raeanne Danielowski

15.  Rivers Edge Commons is located in downtown Elk River at the junction of the Elk River and
Mississippi Rivers. The park was constructed in 2007 and features a hillside performance venue and a
street level plaza with a popular in-grade fountain that is both a focal point and interactive play
element.
 The park is a successful connection to the river and has strengthened downtown’s long term viability.
The commons is home to a successful summer concert series, movies in the park, and special events
that bring over 20,000 people to downtown annually. The venue’s overwhelming popularity has led to
performance seating regularly filling to capacity and beyond.
 The city has received most of the equipment with the exception of a couple of items.
 The fiber contractors have installed conduit running from the city’s fiber ring to the location of the
network cabinet onsite.
 Once the general and electrical contractors have installed the cabinet and electrical outlets, the fiber will
be installed and spliced into the city fiber ring.
 As soon as the cabinet and power is complete we can finish the wifi installation.
 Construction is planned to be completed by November.
 “The installation of Wi Fi will greatly enhance the experience of coming downtown,
improving the viability of the park, access to the river, connecting more residents to the
internet and enable the city’s Cable Channel to televise the Riverfront Concert Series live”
Mayor John Dietz

16.  Fiber Installed to the facility
 Free Community WiFi
 Public Terminals added
 Veteran Outreach Program implemented
 Enhanced meeting room capabilities
Quotes
 “The Blandin Broadband grant allowed the Sherburne History Center to increase their internet speed
and access. The grant also allowed us to install wifi throughout the building. This greater access allows
a significant increase in the use of our building and resources. With greater internet access, more
groups and agencies are using our building for meetings. The Sherburne County Health and Human
Services is using our building on almost a weekly basis. The Sherburne County Veterans Services
Officer, using one of our meeting rooms, is able to access records and provide improved services to his
clients. The county 4-H group, student groups, the Sherburne County Soil and Water Conservation
District, professional museum groups and county Master Gardeners are just a few examples of the
groups that have used our building for programs and events. In the month of August 2016, we hosted 16
different meetings and events in our building. This is nearly double the number of meetings we hosted 2
years ago before the Blandin Broadband grant so dramatically improved our resources.” - Mike
Brubaker, Executive Director
 “ the addition of upgraded connectivity services at the Sherburne History center have had an immediate
direct positive impact, almost doubling outreach work productivity and capabilities to the county
veteran & family customers that we assist on a weekly basis!” – Bruce Price, Veteran Service Officer

17.  Extended Computer Lab Hours in the Elk River School
District
 60 Chromebooks were purchased for Spectrum HS
students as part of their Community Education
Curriculum – Tech Tutors at the local Senior Center

19. • We had a very committed group that followed through
on their assigned tasks.
• The Sherburne County Feasibility Study was a direct
result of our work with the Blandin Broadband
Community Program.
• Countywide relationships have developed and
partnerships will be on-going.
• Three Border to Border grant applications will be
submitted and numerous more were discussed with
future potential.

20. • Progress is being made but Sherburne County still
ranks 49th statewide at the 25/3 goal.
• Sherburne County now donates all their expired
equipment to People for PC’s
• The Blandin Foundation has been a tremendous
resource and we are a better community due to this
program.