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Southwest MN Broadband Services

Blandin Broadband Community Grant2012-2014

CLASSES HELD Immanuel Lutheran School Lakefield- 22

attendees JCC High School - 6 attendees Lakefield Library -11 attendees Jackson Library - 9 attendees

An Online Presence for Everyone

Facebook Twitter Linked In

Material Covered

County Library Staff Prairie Ecology Bus Director

Poppe’s Pumpkin Patch Immanuel Lutheran ChurchOne on One

Training/Business Specific

Of the attendees: __28__ now have Facebook Pages

__10__ currently are on Twitter

__21__ are on LinkedIn

Enhanced Online Presence

SMB’s monthly platforms were designed to support and enhance the fundamentals taught in the classes and foster ongoing learning.

Social Media Breakfast

PC’s for PEOPLE

PC’s for People – Julie Foote

Donors PCs for People wants to make it as easy for you as

possible to help people gain access to technology. We make it easy for 

companies to donate their computers by offering a cost-saving alternative to using expensive corporate recyclers. Many companies even qualify for free pickup!

Individuals can make tax-deductible donations of working computers and computer parts.

All are welcome to make financial gifts to help us further our mission of creating new opportunities by providing personal computers and education to people who have limited experience with technology due to social, physical and/or economic circumstances.

PC’s for People

Eligibility To receive a computer from PCs for People a potential recipient

must be below the 150% poverty level or be currently enrolled in a government assistance program. Below is the current 2014 poverty guidelines and examples of programs that are eligible:

Adult & Child Mental Health Case Management Employment Services Medicaid Food Support of Financial Assistance Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Section 8 or other Federal Public Housing Assistance Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) The National School Lunch Program's "Free Lunch" Program Head Start Extended Foster Care

PC’s for People

Recipients (received tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse and cables) JCC = 46 PCs to Free and Reduced Lunch families SSC (Okabena) = 21 PCs to Heron Lake Okabena Free and

Reduced Lunch families Brewster Middles School = 15 PCs to Free and Reduced

Lunch families Immanuel Lutheran School = 20 PCs for computer lab Round Lake Community Center = 2 PCs for public use Heron Lake Assisted Living resident with MS Southwestern Mental Health client Local business covered 90 day warranty replacements =

Schrader Consulting, http://www.schraderconsulting.com/

PC’s for People

What were the project Goals? Update computer lab with 25 PCs Intergenerational learning

What were the best Outcomes? Updated OS, Office, and converted all to wireless Added classroom projector for instruction

Where do we go from here? Develop classes that seniors would be interested in learning

about i.e. Facebook, Skype, Google Hangout…

PCs for People

Venue Purchase

• The HLO School District purchased devices for classroom and community use.

• They are being used by members of the community and students for learning and other projects.

Round Lake Brewster Schools – Ray Hassing

Our Goal was to put technology in the hands of our Early Childhood Family Education students and parents.

Children are introduced to new educational games and software at an early age. It also allows parents to use technology and to be able to learn with their child.

The most fun was watching the students use technology at such a young age.

Jackson County Libraries – Tam Erickson

E-readersI-pads

iPads for Generational UseJen Tewes, Sanford Jackson

• iPads used for:• Patient Education• Child/family in emergency or lab

departments to decrease anxiety• Educating patient on the use of

Sanford My Chart• Inpatients to connect with family

and current events• Surgical patients to pass the time

WiFi Hotspots

Purpose is to make internet available in public places

Identified areas where people gather. Currently installed at: Lakefield VFW, Heron Lake Community Center, Sport Shots Tavern-Round Lake, Okabena Liquor Store, Jackson Legion, Silver Bucket in Brewster, continue to play phone tag with Bergen Bar & Grill

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Ride the Wave: 60/90 Corridor Initiative

Ride the Wave: 60/90 Corridor Initiative

Connecting people and businesses to the Highway 60 / Interstate 90 / Highway 71 corridor through umbrella marketing

Ride the Wave: 60/90 Corridor Initiative

Communities boasting the latest in communication infrastructure and Internet connectivity

Marketing fiber to your home or business

Marketing regional assets Attracting and maintaining an

efficient workforce

The MN Public Broadband Alliance will research and review the benefits of creating a technology partnership to improve delivery of broadband services and maximize broadband use by member communities, with support of a $10,000 Blandin Foundation grant.

 The project will look at how a technology alliance could satisfy the common needs of publically financed broadband networks. The MPBA will identify other regional technology alliances that could guide their effort, while also evaluating the potential for member communities to serve as mentors for additional communities wanting to increase their broadband capabilities.

Blandin Foundation awards grant to the MN Public Broadband Alliance for broadband collaboration study