ST. PAUL, Minn. (GRAY) – Earlier this month, the final round of broadband funding from a 2023 bill was distributed in the form of grants.
As part of the 2023 Agriculture Budget Bill, the Minnesota legislature set aside $100 million in investments toward broadband access.
This month, the last chunk of that money is being divided across the state.
The money is split into two grant programs.
One program, which focuses on areas of low population density, allocates about $27 million in this round of grants.
The other program focuses on broader interest projects and invested $25 million in this round of funding.
The grants represent the end of the well of funding from the 2023 ag bill, but it’s not likely to be the end of the broadband push. Recent federal funding for broadband has encouraged state lawmakers to continue making investments.
“I think now we need to see, as those federal dollars come down, how do we make sure the state is putting in enough to really maximize those dollars? And that’s really what I’m anxious to do,” said Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown).
Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) is responsible for distributing the state grants but also administers federal broadband funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
The 2023 legislative session provided a record-breaking budget surplus to pull funding from; However, even if the legislature can’t match its investment next year, the federal funding will still be an option.
“That federal money is still working its way through the pipeline into Minnesota too. So, we’ll continue to see these grants and projects progress, even if the state doesn’t allot any more money in the next biennium,” said Sen. Rob Kupec (DFL-Moorhead)
The broadband investments were a bipartisan effort in 2023 and will likely remain an interest for both parties next year. Members on both sides of the aisle see it as a priority.
“I’m on the jobs committee and the tax committee, two places where that [discussion] might take place,” said Sen. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester), “I think those discussions will go forward in the next session as well… I’m glad that we have a federal partner in this case.”
The upcoming legislative session will mark the start of a new biennium, meaning lawmakers will need to set the budget.
Copyright 2024 KTTC. All rights reserved.
