I'm thrilled to announce that starting today, applications for the Director of Minnesota's Office of Broadband Development are now open.

Our mission at DEED is to empower the growth of Minnesota's economy, for everyone. Our Office of Broadband Development plays a direct and large role in expanding economic opportunities for Minnesotans across the state. Through the past several years of the state's border-to-border broadband program, about 93% of Minnesota households have reliable broadband.

There's no doubt that broadband is the critical infrastructure to invest in right now. Over the past two years, we've relied on high-speed internet to connect Minnesotans to their classrooms and workplaces and our businesses to the rest of the world.

Our state has the bold goal of providing every Minnesotan with access to reliable broadband, and our office of broadband oversees programs that help get us closer to that reality. This most recent call for applications built on appropriations from both the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions. This recent grant round contains the highest-ever amount of funding for the Border-to-Border Broadband Infrastructure grant program at $95 million. Funding from two sources – state and federal – can be used to reimburse for up to half the cost of the broadband infrastructure deployed.

While we are making progress, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to fully connect Minnesotans with reliable high-speed internet in their homes. It is an exciting time with both state and federal investments to deploy for great projects across the state. We are looking for someone with the skills and passion to lead state broadband efforts, working with a diverse set of stakeholders and a committed staff.