[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today visited BevComm, a broadband provider in Blue Earth, to discuss the state’s progress to expand broadband access across the state. Over the last year, the state has provided enough funding to expand broadband to 46,000 Minnesota homes and businesses that didn’t previously have access.

“The momentum behind our work to expand high-speed broadband access across the state is connecting more Minnesotans to their jobs, their businesses, their health care, and their friends and family,” said Governor Walz. “We’re helping our network of providers expand this critical infrastructure to thousands of homes and businesses, improving quality of life for Minnesotans, making businesses more competitive, and connecting folks to critical services.”

The state has been making consistent progress to expand high-speed broadband to all Minnesotans. In December 2022, Governor Walz announced $100 million for 61 projects to expand broadband to 33,000 Minnesota homes and businesses in 48 counties. In June 2023, the Governor announced $67 million for 30 projects to expand broadband to 13,100 Minnesota homes and businesses in 26 counties. That announcement came after the Governor signed an additional $100 million into law to expand high-speed broadband.

The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) will award another $50 million in broadband grants in February.