Kandiyohi County Board to discuss internet project expansion

The Kandiyohi County Board meets this coming Tuesday to review a proposal for the 2026 Svea Fiber Internet Project. This meeting will take place in Willmar and represents a potential step forward for rural infrastructure in the region.

The board previously authorized an initial project budget of $210,000 during an April session. That original plan committed $100,800 in county funds toward the fiber expansion effort.

This new proposal adds 70 homes in Whitefield Township to the planned service area. The projected cost for this addition is $1,271 per home. Funding for the expansion comes from multiple sources to share the financial burden. The county is responsible for 28 percent of the costs while Vibrant Broadband covers an equal share. A state grant from the Broadband Line Extension Connection Program provides the remaining 35 percent of the required budget.

Total costs for the expanded project are estimated at $312,532.26. Under this current plan, the county obligation is set at $88,972.98. County commissioners will hold the discussion at 9 a.m. at the Health and Human Services Building on 23rd Street Northeast.