Monday, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced grants totaling $19.4 million to help 17 entities in Minnesota develop broadband infrastructure in their communities. 

 

Palmer Wireless was one of those entities and they were awarded $151,934 to deploy 3.4 miles of fiber passing 21 underserved businesses in the Becker Industrial Park as well as to 12 vacant city-owned lots covering 70 acres.

 

In addition, one of the vacant lots is the future site of the Northstar station. The total project costs are $303,870; the remaining $151,936 (50 percent local match) will be provided by Palmer Wireless via a line of credit.

 

The awards presented Monday will help serve 6,095 households, 83 community institutions and 150 businesses in unserved or underserved regions of the state.

 

DEED awarded the funding from its Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program, which Gov. Mark Dayton signed into law in May of 2014. The grants will provide up to 50 percent of the cost of developing broadband for improved high-speed Internet in communities across the state.

 

“Minnesotans have a proud history of innovation,” said Lt. Gov. Tina Smith. “Ensuring that all Minnesotans have access to high-speed broadband Internet is critical to unleashing the next generation of dreamers and innovators. These new infrastructure investments will help Greater Minnesota communities compete in the global economy.”

 

Superfast broadband improves the performance of existing firms, enables new businesses to emerge and encourages flexible working patterns – all positives for business and workforce needs now and into the future, said Community Development Coordinator Amanda Othoudt. 

 

“The business community is very excited about this, and so are we,” she said.

 

Improving broadband service to the industrial park was the No. 1 priority for Becker based on a local broadband survey of residents and business owners.

 

Palmer Wireless is a local wireless company bringing affordable wireless high speed internet service to Central Minnesota. Palmer Wireless offers 3G cell phone service through a cooperative partnership with other local Central Minnesota wireless partners. 

 

Palmer Wireless was formed in 2006 and is been a growing presence in the Palmer, Duelm, Clear Lake, Becker, Foley, Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud communities.