ST. PAUL – Rep. Chris Swedzinski, R-Ghent, issued the following statement regarding Tuesday’s announcement from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development of 39 broadband grants totaling more than $26 million to bring broadband access to unserved and underserved parts of the state. Some grants leveraged funding from the Connect America Funding from the federal government, helping stretch funding from the state.
According to a press release from DEED, the Milroy Broadband Project located in both Redwood and Lyon counties will receive $742,365 to bring access to a combined 268 unserved households and businesses. A portion of another $760,501 grant will be used to bring online several unserved areas of southwest Lac qui Parle County. The grants are being matched by private funding.
“This project fits the intent of the broadband grant program by bringing reliable internet service to a part of our state that has been lacking,” Swedzinski said. “High-speed internet no longer is a luxury, but a tool that is necessary to function in many aspects of our society. Congratulations to those who put together this successful grant and I look forward to seeing positive results.”
The Republican-led Legislature approved $20 million in grants for the Border-to-Border Broadband program during the 2017 legislative session.
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