MN Intelligent Rural

Communities Project

An ARRA Broadband Stimulus Grant to the Blandin Foundation

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

Intelligent Community

CriteriaBroadbandAccess

Price

Use

Digital InclusionComputers

Public access

Training

Knowledge Workforce

Education and Training

Business – Education Partnerships

InnovationNew ways of creating and delivering products and services by all sectors

Systematic creation and support of new business enterprises

Marketing and AdvocacyMarketing to an external audience to attract investment and talent

Advocacy to an internal audience about technology, careers and other broadband economy factors

BROADBAND

KNOWLEDGE WORKFORCE

INNOVATIONMARKET ING

DIGITAL INCLUSION

The ICF Framework

MIRC OutcomesMore broadband subscribers

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

Partners and RolesBusiness Training

UM Extension

MN Renewable Energy Marketplace

Resident TrainingMN Learning Commons

DEED Workforce Centers/ABE

PC’s for People

Outreach and SupportRegional Development Commissions

SupportUniversity of MN – Crookston

Intelligent Community Forum

11 Demonstration Communities

Others

Utilizing the Intelligent Community approachBroadband

Increased public access

Possible hotspot creation

Digital InclusionPublic access

Digital literacy training

PCs for People

Knowledge WorkforceMore access to WFC

Digital Literacy Training

Knowledge Worker Career information

Atomic Learning

InnovationNew uses of technology within business, education and government

Small business technology assistance

Assistance provided by MES and MNREM

Marketing/AdvocacyFocusing on internal technology advocacy

Local messaging

External messaging via community and business sites and online tools

Community teams focusing on project development and implementation

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 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)