SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, Governor Tim Walz announced that the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will award grants totaling $20,645,425 to 39 projects in the sixth year of the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program. The package of grants included Paul Bunyan Communications’ GigaZone Fiber project in the city of Cook, receiving $311,254, while leveraging a local match of $380,421.
Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls) cheered the grant award, and he continues to advocate for his legislation to deliver increased investments in high-speed broadband.
“I’m grateful Paul Bunyan Communications received this grant to finish this important project in Cook. They’ve been a great partner in our efforts to expand broadband access to more residents and businesses in northern Minnesota,” said Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls). “COVID-19 continues to impact learning, commerce, and so many other aspects of our lives, and folks are relying increasingly on the ability to get online. It’s an important time to make new robust investments to address the significant connectivity gaps that remain across our state.”
This last mile project will improve high-speed broadband for 57 unserved and 254 underserved locations in the community of Cook. In a funding partnership with the State of Minnesota and City of Cook, Paul Bunyan Communications will improve broadband service levels up to 1 Gbps download and 1 Gbps upload, exceeding the 2022 and 2026 state speed goals for homes, businesses, and community facilities in the project area. The project will enable businesses to take advantage of online resources, including training, marketing, and business support services. In addition, it will increase the quality of life and economic opportunity for all residents by providing new avenues to pursue education, employment, health care, social life, and entertainment.
The grants announced today bring the number of homes and businesses receiving broadband access through the grant program since 2014 to a total of over 56,800.
Rep. Ecklund is chief author of legislation to invest $120 million in the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program over the next two years, as recommended by the Governor’s Task Force on Broadband in December to meet connectivity and speed goals. The bill received a public hearing on January 20 in the House Industrial Education and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee.