The document outlines activities from the Strut Your Stuff Tour hosted by Blandin Broadband Communities in Nobles County, Minnesota. It discusses the history of broadband efforts in the county beginning in 2014. It then provides details on various digital inclusion projects that were undertaken including distributing computers, digital literacy training, hosting technology classes, conducting a feasibility study, and establishing wireless hotspots and lending iPads through the county library. The goal of the projects was to expand broadband access and adoption across the rural county.

1. Strut Your Stuff Tour
Blandin Broadband Communities
NEON/Nobles County

2. Agenda
• 1:45 - Networking, informal discussion and refreshments
• 2:00 - Welcome, introductions and check-in by local
hosts/attendees
• 2:10 - Meeting purpose ~ Bernadine
• 2:15 - Community presentation
• 3:30 - Blandin response
• 3:45 - The future
• 4:00 - Adjourn

3. How did we begin?
• NEON (Nobles Economic
Opportunity Network) was the
driving group initiating
involvement.
• NEON’s first formal meeting
Thursday, March 13, 2014.
• Within a few short meetings,
broadband was identified as the
top opportunity to focus efforts on.
• A small sub-committee was
formed to complete the initial BBC
application.
• We were selected as a Blandin
Broadband Community in
November of 2014.

4. Is…..
• Townships
• Leota, Wilmont, Bloom, Seward, Graham
Lakes, Lismore, Larkin, Summit Lake, Elk,
Hersey, Westside, Olney, Dewald,
Worthington, Lorain, Grand Prairie, Little
Rock, Ransom, Bigelow, Indian Lake.
• Cities
• Adrian, Bigelow, Brewster, Dundee, Ellsworth,
Kinbrae, Lismore, Round Lake, Rushmore,
Wilmont, Worthington
• School Districts
• Adrian, Ellsworth, Round Lake/Brewster,
Worthington
• Minnesota West Community & Technical College
• Nobles County
• State legislators are invited

5. Community Involvement
• Project Committee
• Pat Demuth
• Julie Foote
• Cheryl Janssen
• Tom Johnson
• Doug Knuth
• Kurt Lintleman
• Gene Metz
• Rod Sankey
• Keith Stubbe
• Steering Committee
• Sharon Johnson
• Jaidy Kolander
• Mike Kuhle
• Fabio Lopez
• Miguel Rivas
• Aida Simon
• Angelo Torres
• Jessica Velasco
• Kayla Westra
• (and the entire Project Committee)
• Many other individuals participated heavily in all the projects and planning

6. Planning Outcomes
• Roughly 60% of the
population of Nobles
County is considered
“Served”.
• However, less than 20% of
the land area is considered
“Served”.
• Overall Goal - FTTP for
the entire county!

7. Activity/Project Overview
• Digital Inclusion and Marketing
& Advocacy were the 2 key
areas of focus.
• A broad range of engagement
• It has been amazing watching
projects take shape, seeing the
passion in people and listening
to the changing attitudes.
MINNESOTA’S BROADBAND
VISION: “Everyone in Minnesota
will be able to use convenient,
affordable world-class broadband
networks that enable us to survive
and thrive in our communities and
across the globe.”

8. Activities/Projects
PC’s for People
• Adrian and Ellsworth School
Districts participated in
identifying families and the
distribution of PC’s.
• 28 PC’s were given out at an
event hosted by the City of
Adrian.
• The Civil Air Patrol was also
given 4 PC’s for cadet training.
• A cadet from the Civil Air Patrol
was able to pass his exam and
receive his pilots license before
his 18th birthday on one of these
PC’s.

9. Activities/Projects
Introduction to Digital Literacy
• Project Lead: Roxanne Hyenga, MN West C&TC
• Goal: The creation of a two-credit, college-level
course taught through Minnesota West
Community and Technical College.
• The first 20 students will participate tuition
free.
• The course is comprised of 6 units including
Digital Landscape, Cyber Safety, Information
Retrieval, Digital Divide, Digital Citizenship,
and Digital Profile
• Delay occurred when too many registrants
dropped the class.
• Class now full, fist class was Sep. 27.
• Students come from Worthington, Fulda,
Okoboji, Mountain Lake, RTR, Everly, IA,
Adrian, Luverne, Fairmont, Redwood Falls,
and Ortonville.

10. Activities/Projects
Digital Inclusion through Community Education
• Project Lead: Sharon Johnson
• Goals: To increase knowledge
and skills of small business
owners, non-profits and
individuals of online marketing
and sales.
• Create a community network of
individuals interested in
pursuing social media for
organizational growth.
• Address digital inclusion
through adult enrichment
technology classes.

11. Activities/Projects
Digital Inclusion through Community Education
• Technology classes were
offered at a reduced rate due to
support from Blandin BBC
grant.
• Total classes offered 15
• Total classes held 12
• Total participants 74
• Technology classes were
offered at Round Lake
Community Center
• Total classes offered 6
• Total classes held 4
• Total participants 21

12. Activities/Projects
Digital Inclusion through Community Education
• #Market Smarter Events
• This event features keynote
speakers, breakout sessions,
lunch, and networking time.
• #Market Smarter was first
held in June 2015 with 159
participants.
• 2nd Annual #Market Smarter
was held in June 2016 with
96 participants.

13. Activities/Projects
Digital Inclusion through Community Education
• Northstar Digital Literacy in
Worthington ABE
• A licensed teacher is in the
ABE computer lab on
Tuesdays to assist people
with digital literacy.
• Seventy two Northstar
assessments were given
during the grant period.
• Fifty Northstar digital literacy
certificates were awarded to
ABE students.

14. Activities/Projects
Digital Literacy for Diverse Communities
• Project Lead: Thi Synavone
• Goal: To train diverse
community members in basic
computer skills using the Saint
Paul Public Library technology
curriculum.
• Training expected to be
conducted in Spanish,
Tigrinya, Amharic, and
Karen.

15. Activities/Projects
Wireless Hot Spots
• Project Leads: Cheryl Janssen
& Julie Foote
• Goal: Provide access point so
no student has to travel more
than 5 miles to access
broadband.
• Partnered with MVTV.
• 8 sites across the county are up
and running and in use, we get
monthly usage reports.

16. Activities/Projects
Wireless Hot Spots
• Emmanuel Presbyterian uses the wifi for
Sunday School classes. They were able
to install an interactive projector for
special projects.
• Dundee was the last hotspot to be
installed due to line of sight (LOS)
issues that had to be overcome by
installing a utility pole on the NW corner
of the city park. Since it’s installation,
local students have been using it
nonstop!
• Reading’s Community Theatre was able
to bring their annual play to the next
level. According to Reading Community
Theatre member, Terri Odell, the play
required sound effects/music that could
not be ran over a smart phone. By
having access to the wifi, they were able
to use a laptop and run the needed
applications to give the play a more
professional setting.

17. Activities/Projects
Feasibility Study
• Project Lead: Tom Johnson
• Goal: Complete a professional
analysis of the county to
determine if FTTP is feasible
for a provider.
• Contracted with Finley
Engineering and CCG
Consulting.
• A number of volunteers
gathered 180 surveys.
• Results demonstrated high take
rate and desire for broadband.

18. Activities/Projects
Community-Wide Reading Through the
myON Digital Library
• Project Lead: Sharon Johnson
• Goal: Purchase the myON digital library
access for the Worthington.
• Training for Community Education teachers &
staff
• Individual login and tracking for ABE students
• Community login for use by Early Childhood
programs (84 children) and community
members.
• ECFE introduced the information to parents in
the program
• EL Teachers have used the community
log-in at middle school, high school and
summer school. They are thrilled to
have access to a broader selection of
level-appropriate books for their
students to use for reading practice!

19. Activities/Projects
Community-Wide Reading Through the myON
Digital Library• ABE has been using myON with their students to
practice reading at their actual reading level.
• 480 students have used myON.
• ABE students have spent 675 hours reading on
myON.
• They have finished reading 2,735 level-
appropriate books.
• Business cards were printed to promote the
program
• Cards were distributed at Children’s Fair
• Ad was placed in Community Ed catalog and
newspaper
• Radio interview was done
• Fliers were distributed to all day care centers and
elementary schools.

20. iPads for Public Use
@ the Nobles County Library
• Project Lead: Clint
Wolthuizen
• Goals:
• 1. Make digital technology (iPads)
available to all people in the
County on a lending basis.
• 2. Digitally connect all Nobles
County residents to improve their
quality of life, their education, their
relationships, and their daily
commerce.
• 3. Train county residents and
library patrons on how to use
digital devices effectively.

21. iPads for Public Use@ the Nobles County Library
• Library Patrons and residents are
utilizing the devices and usage is
trending up.
• The children’s librarian will be
implementing the Daycare iPad kit
outreach this fall.
• Device trainings have aided
residents in operating their own
digital devices as well as the
iPads offered at the library.
• iPads have been used for a
variety of activities including (but
not limited to) communication with
loved ones, language learning,
current information awareness,
eBooks, and education.
Outcomes to date:
• Numerous Community
partnerships including (but not
limited to): Kids-R-It, We Care
Daycare, & Adult Basic Education
• A fall focus on marketing the iPad
service and additional patron
training sessions will keep the
program growing.

22. iPads for Public Use
@ the Nobles County Library
• Continue marketing the iPad
program to Nobles County
citizens to increase its
effectiveness
• Allow for out-of-library usage
• Adapt the use of the devices to
changing community needs
• Partner with the Center for
Active Living to teach seniors
how to connect to the internet
and effectively utilize current
technology
Future Goals & Outcomes • Create a WiFi park in the green space
next to the library so devices can be
used in an outdoor environment. The
wireless connectivity will be utilized by
patrons & residents during and after
normal library hours.

23. Activities/Projects
BAC Fiber
• Project Lead: Abraham Algadi
• Goal: Provide best internet
connection speeds to best
utilize the Biotechnology
Advancement Center as a
meeting place and to help
business startups.
• The BAC houses a state-of-the-
art training/meeting room.
• Requested price quotes for
“Broadband” service to BAC.
• Efforts under way to identify an
ISP and acceptable terms.

24. Activities/Projects
• Technology Education for
Round Lake
• Project Lead: Becky Strandberg
• Goal: Our goal is to provide the
opportunity to the Round Lake
Community and surrounding
rural area to develop computer
and technology skills, while
enjoying social interaction.
• Most of the efforts and
management of the center are
through local volunteers.

25. Activities/Projects
• Changing Main Street through
Technology and Education
• Project Lead: Sharon Johnson
• Goal: Enable Community
Education to plan and
implement educational
opportunities designed to help
existing business owners with
succession planning and
prospective business owners
with business planning.

26. Activities/Projects
Regional Data Center visioning
• Project Lead: Tom Johnson
• Nobles County Administration
Building has a vacated jail
space with no identified use.
• Create a vision for a regional
government data center.
• Take the vision on the road to
determine if enough interest
exists to propose a remodel
project.

27. Reflection
• We wish we would have begun years earlier.
• If it was not for Blandin and the BBC program continuing to encourage,
set deadlines and partner on projects, combined with recent
Leadership programs, none of this would be where it is today.
• A ‘connected’ community with endless opportunities is around the
corner.
THANK YOU BLANDIN FOUNDATION