Parts of county to get faster internet

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development is awarding grants totaling $66.9 million to 30 projects in the eighth year of the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program and pilot round of the Low-Density Broadband Grant Program. It includes improving connectivity in Carlton County, a news release said.

A last-mile project serving 503 households and businesses in the townships of Barnum, Eagle Lake, Lakeview and Moose Lake will provide fiber-to-the-home. A grant of $1.27 million will be matched with local funds. The partnership with the state and Carlton County ($50,000), and Savage Communications will offer speedy broadband service and improve access to critical school e-learning applications, improve access to health care resources and stimulate a more robust local economy.

The funding, which includes both federal and state funds approved during the 2022 legislative session, goes to broadband providers to build out broadband infrastructure to unserved and underserved locations across the state. All award winners will deliver internet service speeds above the 2026 state speed goal of 100/20 Mbps, and all award winners will participate in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides monthly service discounts to help pay for internet service.

Grant dollars are matched by $71.6 million in private and local funds, for a total investment in broadband infrastructure of nearly $138.5 million.