KNSI radio reports…

Minnesota is awarding more than $23 million in grants to 30 projects throughout the state to including a couple in Central Minnesota.

The money is to help bring high-quality broadband access to 10,900 businesses, homes, and community anchor institutions that are underserved and unserved in parts of the state.

They look at Rice Lake and Brown Lake areas…

Locally, the Melrose Telephone Company and Eden Valley received a grant for $393,890 to upgrade approximately 84 unserved and 336 underserved locations in the Rice Lake and Brown Lake areas in rural Stearns County, and part of the Melrose industrial park near Interstate 94.

Having this advanced access to the Melrose industrial park will address the needs of existing businesses and attract new businesses.

The rural Eden Valley portion of the project will see improved quality of life, including opportunities for business, education, health care, and telecommuting options.

And around Ramey…

Benton Cooperative Telephone Company has been awarded $936,759 to help serve approximately 253 unserved households, nine unserved businesses, two unserved town halls, and 97 unserved farms in the Ramey ILEC exchange in portions of Alberta and Granite Ledge Townships in Benton County, and parts of Hillman, Lakin, and Morrill Townships in Morrison County, and a piece of Page Township in Mille Lacs County.