Skip to Main Content
Blandin Foundation logo with tree sprig graphic and "strengthening rural Minnesota" tagline

News Items

Four more communities selected for Blandin Community Broadband Program

Blandin Foundation announced today that it has selected four additional rural Minnesota communities for intensive, two-year partnerships with the Foundation to advance local broadband initiatives. Swift County, Rock County, Cannon Falls and Koochiching Technology Initiative were successful in their communities’ bids to become Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC). Communities were selected based on demonstrated commitment to …

News Item

Blandin Foundation Education Grants awarded to 344 local students

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (June 26, 2018) – Blandin Foundation recently shared with 344 Itasca area students that they have been awarded grants of up to $4,500 for their education after high school, putting higher education better within financial reach. The total amount awarded for 2017-18 is $1,053,200 to students from 11 area schools. “Students from …

News Item

Tune in: rural vibrancy on MPR today

MPR’s Ground Level series is about listening throughout the state to build bridges across differences. Last week they hosted a conversation here in Grand Rapids.  You can find the recording here. Among the topics: local insights on the Ground Level Survey of Minnesotans, and  rural brain gain, a trend tracked by University of Minnesota Extension researcher Ben Winchester.

News Item

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation renews partnership with Blandin Broadband Communities Program

Two-year program provides planning, technical and financial support for four communities Grand Rapids, MINN. (June 14, 2018) – Blandin Foundation announced today that it has renewed its partnership with Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation to advance access to and use of broadband in the region through the Blandin Broadband Communities (BBC) program. The selection process …

News Item

Clip: Young Chokio leader lives, and leads, wide open

Kayla Hawkinson lives — and makes life happen — in Chokio, Minnesota. This young leader and BCLP alum shares her passion for making a difference in her community in this post from the Live Wide Open blog. Our friends at the West Central Initiative Foundation and others initiated the Live Wide Open campaign to showcase …

News Item

Clip: Broadband brings returns, roadblocks for rural communities

NBC News online reports today on the difference broadband makes for rural communities, and the challenges community leaders take on to bring high-speed internet to their community. Minnesota’s Lake County is a bright spot, where community leaders came together to craft a solution that fits their needs and dreams. https://nbcnews.to/2HDnZz1  

News Item

Clip: Spotlight on the ROI of rural broadband

Daily Yonder, a national online news source focused on topics that impact rural, posted today about a research project we funded that explores the economic impact of broadband in 5 rural Minnesota communities. You can read the article, and explore the full research project.

News Item

Bois Forte, Fond du Lac and Grand Portage Reservation residents complete Blandin Reservation Community Leadership Program

Grand Rapids, Minn. (May 30, 2018) — Twenty-eight residents of the Bois Forte, Fond du Lac and Grand Portage reservation communities returned May 11 from a five-day leadership retreat. This was the first segment of an intense seven-day training provided by the Blandin Reservation Community Leadership Program (BRCLP). The team also will participate in three …

News Item

Ten communities selected for Blandin Leadership Programs

Grand Rapids, Minn. (May 15, 2018) – As part of its commitment to strengthening rural communities, Blandin Foundation has named 10 communities where it is making available Blandin Leadership Program training in 2019. Blandin Community Leadership Program (BCLP) Residents of Aitkin, Blackduck-Kelliher-Northome, Fairmont, Faribault, Glencoe, Lake City, Planview and Quad Cities (Eveleth, Gilbert, Mt. Iron, …

News Item

Now open: Blandin Broadband Community applications

We’re seeking four new communities to join the next cohort of Blandin Broadband Communities. If your community is eager to improve broadband access and use — check out this information! Applications due May 31.

News Item
arrow icon pointing up Back to Top