MN Intelligent Rural Communities Creating a Culture of UseBernadine Joselyn, Blandin Foundation

Blandin Foundation Mission

To strengthen rural communities in Minnesota, especially the Grand Rapids

Area

Blandin Broadband VisionTo ensure a high quality of life and a

globally competitive future for its citizens, businesses and communities, Minnesota is

committed to making the necessary investment to become a world leader in the universal deployment and use of ultra high-

speed next generation broadband

MN Intelligent Rural Communities Project

A $4.8 million dollar grant to drive broadband adoption

and use in greater Minnesota using the

Intelligent Community economic development

framework

MIRC Goal

Create technologically and economically vital rural communities, competing and thriving in the broadband economy.

MIRC Outcomes

• Increased culture of use of broadband-based services

• Increased efficiency and effectiveness of digital literacy training service delivery

• Increased economic vitality in rural Minnesota communities

MIRC Outputs

• 13.5 jobs created• 38,416 new household subscribers• 155 new institutional subscribers• 3,500 users of public access facilities• 3,640 participants in at least 16

hours of training• 1,000 renewed and distributed

computers• 160,000 people reached through

project outreach and awareness

$6.4 M project Budget

$4.8M grant request• 4% - Blandin

Foundation program management, marketing and outreach

• 8% - Program management, marketing, outreach

• 7% - Evaluation• 39% - Community

implementation, training or technical assistance

• 27% - Individual training or assistance

• 15% - Targeted small business training and technical assistance

Over $1.5M in matching dollars• $690,000 from

Blandin Foundation ($500,000 cash)

• $836,000 in-kind from various partners

Outputs and Outcomes(in the next 24-30

months)• Increased residential broadband

subscribers 2% of normal growth (over 38,000 households)

• Increased small business subscribers (240)

• Jobs created or retained (13.5)• Small business reached (6,000), trained

(2,000), provided extensive technical assistance (200)

• Individuals reached (25,000), trained (2,500).

Intelligent Community Framework

• Intelligent Community promotes a “culture of use”– Broadband infrastructure– Knowledge Workers– Innovation– Digital Inclusion–Marketing/Advocacy

BROADBAND

KNOWLEDGE WORKFORCE

INNOVATIONMARKET ING

DIGITAL INCLUSION

The ICF Virtuous Cycle

Statewide Activities• Enhanced public access at workforce

centers with access to training and online learning

• E-entrepreneurship / small business training and support

• Provide computers to vulnerable populations

• Support community broadband initiatives– Community planning–Market development– Application development– Feasibility studies

Partners and Roles• Business Training– UM Extension– MN Renewable

Energy Marketplace

• Citizen Training– MN Learning

Commons– DEED Workforce

Centers

• Outreach– Regional

Development Commissions

• Support– PC’s for People– University of MN –

Crookston– Intelligent

Community Forum

• 11 Demonstration Communities

• Others?

Demonstration Communities

• Upper MN Valley RDC• Willmar• Windom• Winona• Worthington• Benton County• Cook County • Grand Rapids Area• Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe• Stevens County• Thief River Falls

Demonstration Communities

• 11 Intelligent Community Demonstration Communities

• Each community has a commitment of up to $100,000 in funds to implement their Intelligent Community Initiative

• Communities must implement a minimum of four projects– All must fit into one of the Intelligent

Community elements– At least one project must address digital

inclusion

Demonstration Communities

• Led by a Project Coordinator in each community and local Steering Committee of key community stakeholders

• Baseline utilization surveys • Goal setting• Project identification• Project implementation (funds for

adoption of community-impacting technology applications (health, education, government, business)

Demonstration Communities

• Unique community needs– Tailor the program of action to their area–Makes it a grass roots initiative.

• Prior experiences with Blandin’s Broadband initiative to lead their efforts.

• Menu of support partners are available that communities can utilize to achieve their goals.

• Cross-pollination of ideas between communities.

Kandiyohi County & Willmar

• EDC’s Technology Committee will serve as the initial core steering committee.

• Requests for ideas will be solicited from the community.

• A work plan will be identified and submitted to Blandin Foundation.

• Process builds consensus. – Broadens scope of plan to meet greatest

needs or most vital projects.

Evaluation

• University of Minnesota-Crookston, EDA Center - Jack Geller– BTOP Measures• Increased residential and business

broadband subscribers• Jobs created or retained • Small business training/support• Individuals reached, trained

– Demonstration Community outcomes – Intelligent Community indicators

Multi-Sector Partner Roles

Making effective use of Minnesota assets!

Outreach Role of the Regional Development

Commissions• Expertise– Economic development / social services– Connection to all stakeholders

• Role– Promote MIRC resources through media,

meetings and RDC communication tools– Facilitate delivery of MIRC resources w/in

the region– Consider initiation of regional broadband

planning

Business Technology Training

• UMN Extension center for Community Vitality – Provide training in e-commerce and

other broadband issues for businesses within MIRC and other rural communities.

– Coordinate technical assistance providers for these business and supporting business and community leaders to develop sustainable broadband efforts for the future.

Business Technology Training

• MNREM– Specialty technology training for

businesses in the renewable energy sector

Workforce Training

• MN Learning Commons– Online knowledge worker career training

delivered via instructor and independent learning to workers in transition

MnLC

Minnesota Learning Commons

The mission of the Minnesota Learning

Commons is to provide access to

effective and efficient online

learning provided by Minnesota

public education partners.

Workforce Training

• MN Workforce Centers– Deliver knowledge worker training and

digital literacy training at workforce centers

– Extended hours for public access

Computers for All

• PCs for People– Gather suitable PCs– Renew PCs with hardware– Renew PCs with licensed software– Distribute to those in need

Expanding Our Partnership Possibilities

• Internet Service Providers– Partnering with PCs for People?– Joint promotion and marketing efforts?• Industry• Community

• Libraries– Virtual workforce centers?– Sites for training?

• Others?– Your ideas welcome!

Questions?