Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development announces over $32 million for broadband

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $34.6 million in grants to 15 Minnesota cities and counties from the Small Cities Coronavirus Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG-CV). As part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Minnesota received a special allocation to address community needs to prevent, prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the funding – nearly $32.2 million – will be used for broadband improvement projects. Projects under CDBG-CV are not associated with the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program managed by the Minnesota Office of Broadband Development. “The pandemic has made clear how vital broadband is to the lives of Minnesotans and to the economic vitality of our state,” said DEED Commissioner Steve Grove. “These grants will help communities fund broadband and other important projects as we write the next chapter of our economy.”