Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to award $67.6 million in broadband grants across the state. It further accelerates the Border-to-Border program in pursuit of Minnesota's 2026 goal that all homes and businesses have access to broadband with download speeds of at least 100 megabits per second and upload speeds of at least 20 megabits per second. Eligible broadband providers can use grant funding to reimburse up to half the cost of broadband infrastructure deployed.  Applications must be received by March 2, 2023.

Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) said that internet providers will receive nearly $100 million to expand broadband coverage to more Minnesotans, representing the largest single investment in broadband infrastructure in state history. In total, 61 broadband expansion projects around Minnesota will receive $99.6 million in grants from the Border-to-Border Broadband program administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)'s Office of Broadband Development.

Governor Tim Walz appointed Bree Maki to serve as the Director of the Office of Broadband Development. Maki will replace previous director Angie Dickison. Bree Maki is the senior outreach director and state broadband and telecommunications outreach director for Senator Tina Smith (D-MN).

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will award $95 million in broadband grants across the state, applications must be submitted by August 4, 2022 at 4:00 pm. Building on appropriations from both the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions, this grant round contains the highest-ever amount of funding for the Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure grant program. Funding from two sources – state and federal – can be used to reimburse for up to half the cost of the broadband infrastructure deployed.

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.