Governor Tim Walz visits Blue Earth
He tours the Bevcomm broadband warehouse, announces more grants

Gov. Tim Walz, center, looks at a Bevcomm employee checking fiber optic cable. At right is DEED commissioner Matt Varilek, also looking on.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz came to Blue Earth on Thursday morning to talk about the progress the state is making to expand broadband access across the state.
The governor arrived around 11 a.m. and was given a tour of Bevcomm’s large warehouse in the West Industrial Park in Blue Earth.
Bevcomm CEO Bill Eckles and other members of the Bevcomm staff gave the governor and others in attendance a tour of the facility, as well as information on the progress Bevcomm is making in installing underground fiber optic cable in the area.
The warehouse has dozens and dozens of large spools of the cable, as well as all of the equipment needed to install it.
Walz was also given a demonstration of how the cable is inspected and what is needed to make sure it is operational.
Also accompanying Walz was DEED (Department of Employment and Economic Development) commissioner Matt Varilek and Office of Broadband Development executive director Bree Maki.
Bevcomm CEO Bill Eckles said his office was notified the governor wanted to come visit Bevcomm and discuss broadband development, as well as make a statement to the press about the topic.
“We just heard from his office last week,” Eckles said. “He had heard about our efforts and wanted to see our large warehouse and see what we have accomplished and still are going to do.”
Walz said that in the last year the state has provided funding to expand broadband to 46,000 Minnesota homes and businesses which did not previously have access.
“The momentum behind our work to expand high-speed broadband access across the state is connecting more Minnesotans to their jobs, their businesses, their health care and their friends and family,” Walz said. “We’re helping our network of providers expand this critical infrastructure to thousands of homes and businesses, improving quality of life for Minnesotans, making businesses more competitive and connecting folks to critical services.”
Walz also announced last December $100 million for 61 projects to expand broadband to 33,000 Minnesota homes and businesses in 48 counties. Last June he had announced $67 million for 30 projects to expand broadband to 13,100 homes and businesses in 26 counties.
The Department of Employment and Economic Development will award another $50 million in broadband grants in February.
Walz’s visit to Blue Earth lasted about an hour and was covered by several area and Twin Cities TV, radio and newspapers.