WILLMAR—Expanding high-speed broadband to all corners of Kandiyohi County has been a dream and challenge for many for more than two decades.

“This is an ongoing issue. It is a task we are constantly struggling to fix,” said Kandiyohi County Administrator Larry Kleindl, during a work session of the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners. The meeting Tuesday was specifically about broadband issues in the county.

With the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus package enacted by the federal government in March, the county could find itself with an influx of federal funding, an estimated $8.38 million, which early guidance says can be used for broadband projects.

The County Board work session was scheduled Tuesday to make sure the commissioners were up to date on county broadband challenges and opportunities.

“So when we get the federal American Rescue dollars, hopefully we can use some of those dollars for broadband, we can hit the ground running,” Kleindl said. “We want to be ready. Today we are at the starting blocks. We are putting our foot on the race and we are going to kick it off.”

Read the full article at the West Central Tribune.