The document provides information about Minnesota's Border to Border Broadband Development Grant program. It outlines that the $20 million 2020 grant round will provide financial assistance to expand broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved areas of the state. Allowable costs include final project design, construction permits, and broadband facilities. Eligible applicants include incorporated businesses, political subdivisions, tribes, nonprofits, cooperatives, and limited liability corporations seeking to expand broadband access. Previous grant rounds have awarded $105.6 million leading to over 43,000 households and 6,600 businesses served.

1. Broadband Development
April 23, 2020
Angie Dickison
Broadband Development Manager
651-259-7610
deed.broadband@state.mn.us
MN Office of Broadband Development
Department of Employment and Economic Development

2. MN Border to Border Broadband
Development Grant
• Grant purpose: To provide financial assistance for the acquisition
and installation of middle-mile and last-mile broadband
infrastructure to areas of the state that do not have wireline access
at federal and state minimum standard speeds.
• Allowable costs: Examples of allowable costs include: final project
design; obtaining construction permits; purchase and/or
construction of facilities, including construction of both “middle
mile” and “last mile” infrastructure; and installation and testing of
the equipment used to provide broadband service.
• $20M available for 2020 Grant Round – application period TBD.

3. Border to Border Broadband Development
Grant – Overview
• Annual general fund appropriations in 6 out of 7 years
• Distributed in a single competitive grant round each FY
funding received
• Technology must be scalable to at least 100Mbps Up/Down
• Cap of $5M per grant award
• At least 1 to 1 match (50% of eligible expenses) required (More
points awarded for higher match)
• Grant awards are to be geographically dispersed
• Speeds offered must achieve 25/3, many offer 100/20 or 1G

4. Border to Border Broadband Development
Grant – Overview - Eligibility
• Who is eligible to apply?
– An incorporated business or partnership
– A political subdivision
– An Indian tribe
– A Minnesota nonprofit organized under 317A
– A Minnesota cooperative organized under 308A or 308B
– A Minnesota limited liability corporation organized under
322B for the purpose of expanding broadband access

5. MN Border to Border
Broadband Incentive Grants
All 5 Years
Funding $105.6M
Applications
Received
296
Awards:
Awards Made 140
Households
Served
43,250
Businesses
Served
6,669
Institutions
Served
360
Projects:
Matching
Investments
$146.5M
Completed 80

6. 2020 Border to Border Grant:
Sign Up for Email Updates
https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/contact/