Date and Time
Thursday Sep 23, 2021
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM CDT
Location
Virtual Presentation
Contact Information
Dan Weber - Assistant County Administrator
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Enhancing Our Regional Broadband Capa...
Description
Enhancing Our Regional Broadband Capacity
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021
10:30 a.m. to noon
About this event
Join us Thursday, Sept. 23, for a Region 7W broadband virtual conference.
As counties and statewide Regional Development Commissions (RDCs) consider how to use American Recovery Act funds for broadband investments, now is a good time to ask:
- Who is being served?
- Who is being left behind?
- What are our opportunities to collaborate or stretch dollars?
- How will we maximize these investments to spur equitable economic recovery?
- What action steps are needed at the local level to support successful implementation?
Feedback gathered during the conference will be compiled with other RDC findings and rolled up to the Blandin Foundation for presentation at its Oct. 12-14 annual broadband conference.
"We don't want to get together and simply admire the problem," said Don Hickman, vice president for community and workforce development at the Initiative Foundation. "We want to identify the challenges, look for opportunities to work together and take action."
Enhancing Our Regional Broadband Capacity Tickets, Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 10:30 AM | Eventbrite
Agenda
10:30 to 10:45 a.m.
Welcome/Introduction by Raeanne Danielowski, (Chair, Sherburne County Board)
Presentation on true speed for Region 7W (Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties) as a baseline for where we are today.
Speaker: Diane Wells, Office of Broadband Development, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, 1st National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota St., Suite E200, St. Paul MN 55101. Direct: (651) 259-7610 or email: diane.wells@state.mn.us
10:50 to 11:10 a.m.
Panel: What activities are currently in the works to enhance broadband capacity
Jolene Foss, facilitator: Panel features in-progress projects in Region 7W. Panelists include:
- Darek Vetsch, Wright County Commissioner
- Tarryl Clark, Stearns County Commissioner
- Jared Gapinski, Benton County Commissioner
- Raeanne Danielowski, Sherburne County Commissioner
11:15 to 11:35 a.m.
Panel: Economic opportunities associated with enhanced broadband
Don Hickman, facilitator: Private sector and education leaders will explore the potential for enhanced broadband. Panelists include:
- Alise Sjostrom, Red Head Creamery in Brooten
- Dr. Annesa Cheek, President, St. Cloud Technical and Community College
- Angie Brick, Rotochopper, Inc., St. Martin
- Amanda Othoudt, Benton Economic Development Partnership
11:35 to 11:50 a.m.
Panel: Moving to action
Patti Gartland, facilitator: Panel will explore key next in expanding the region’s broadband capacity. Panelists include:
- Laura Kangas, Arvig
- Nathan Zacharias, Rural Broadband Coalition
- Melissa Wolf, Mid-Continent TeleCo
Closing comments: Nancy Hoffman, Chisago County Economic Development, will share insights into a successful project in Chisago County.
