Grant Information

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MN Office of Broadband Digital Opportunity Plan

The MN Office of Broadband Development (OBD) has spent the better share of 2023 working to gather diverse input from a large number of participants across the state to help inform the Digital Equity Plan required by NTIA to access federal funding for infrastructure and digital equity initiatives.

The plan will be submitted in late Q4 of 2023 to be reviewed and approved by NTIA, which will in turn allow access to ~ $50M in Digital Equity Act money to support new digital opportunity initiatives in Minnesota.

Eligible Applicants

While we do not yet know what the eligibility requirements will be for grants from the OBD, they are likely to include the following types of organizations:

501(c)3 nonprofit organizations

Digital Connection Committees

Minnesota’s tribal governments and four Bureau of Indian Education contract schools

Local governments (townships, cities, counties), state libraries, other community based organizations serving families

Key Dates

Grant information potentially available in 2nd quarter, 2024

Grant submissions could potentially start in late 2nd quarter 2024

Funds will be distributed after awards are made after July 1st, 2024

Applying for funds FAQ

  • While we don’t know for sure yet, those organizational types named in the section above are the likely types.

    Some examples may be:

    * 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations focused on supporting the school learning experience of high-need and/or underserved K-12 students

    * Minnesota’s tribal governments and four Bureau of Indian Education contract schools

    * Intermediaries directly supporting or providing grants to schools and school districts (school foundations, etc)

    * Local government and tribal entities that are directly responding to the distance learning needs of students

  • We’ll supply you with all of the relevant information once grant RFP requirements are posted.

  • While we don’t know for sure, it is likely that only organizations will be able to apply for grants.

Grant and Program Focus

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  • After we finish piloting our new Digital Navigator Framework in early 2024, we’ll have a resource list of organizations in your area where you can be trained to become a Digital Navigator.

Distributing funds FAQs

+ How will need be identified? How will need be prioritized?

Partnership for a ConnectedMN will use the following criteria to determine project selection:

  1. Impact on students & families in high-need and/or underserved communities, including Black, Indigenous and People of Color, students from low-income families, and students residing in rural Minnesota.
  2. Capacity of grantee to deliver on outcomes of the Partnership for a ConnectedMN: Students in high-need communities have tech devices, ensuring more equitable access to educational resources – now and in the future; Young people in both rural and urban communities have reliable, affordable broadband access; Students and providers have the tools to connect and engage around school, physical and mental health and future career pathways.
  3. Partnership: How does the proposal reflect the interests and input, talents and contributions of key local partners, including families, educators, school administrators and tribal entities? How does the proposal align with and advance the needs of partners?
  4. Innovation: In what ways does the project reflect innovative approaches or collaboration?
  5. Program Design: How does your program design consider the multiple solutions required for distance learning so that students receive the support that they need? (devices, connectivity, support.)

Geographic diversity will be taken into account to ensure that both rural and urban students benefit. The first ConnectedMN grant round distributed approximately 70% of funding to programs supporting rural students and 30% of funding to programs supporting students in the Twin Cities metro. Grants funded through this round will reflect a higher percentage of funds for programs serving students in the Twin Cities Metro.

Final selections will be made by a review committee comprised of community members with a broad range of geographic, community, business, and education and education technology expertise.

+ How many organizations will you give to?

While the number of organizations that will be served by the round of grantmaking by ConnectedMN is not fixed, ConnectedMN aims to help supply students with the tech tools they need for this school year. The partnership will fund innovative solutions to device and connectivity barriers so students have the tools necessary to connect and engage around school, boost their physical and mental health, and explore future career pathways.

+ What will the range of the awards be?

The maximum grant size is $150,000. Funds must be spent within twelve months.

+ Should communities look to the Partnership as a source of funding for broadband infrastructure projects?

No. These private donations are intended to augment the approximately $14 million of public funding earmarked for school districts to prioritize devices and connectivity through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief fund. Investing in network infrastructure is beyond the scope of this initiative. Look [here][1] for information on the state’s border to border broadband program. [1]: https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/grant-program/

To learn more about the role of the Governor’s Office in this partnership, please click here.