ConnectedMN Ecosystem

ConnectedMN is working collaboratively with organizations across the state - some directly, and some indirectly.

The interactive map below provides an overview of many of the entities who are participating in some way with the ConnectedMN partnership, and shows how some of these organizations are related to our work.

Try clicking on the “filters” at the top of the map to toggle them on and off and watch how the map changes…clicking on an individual circle opens a panel to the left that provides additional information on that entity. The color legend in the lower left corner denotes the type of entity.

Map View

The Challenge

Minnesota’s stark opportunity gap and digital access disparities have always been unacceptable. The realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting school closures magnified long standing, systemic inequities.

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The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) estimated that at least 25,000+ Minnesota students still lack the tech devices and high-speed internet access essential for academic learning, out-of-school activities and critical services such as telehealth. The Common Sense 2020 “Closing the Digital Divide” report indicated that number is more likely to be 10 times that estimate.

Communities of color and Indigenous communities across the state are disparately impacted in ways that further compound these complex issues: 24% of residents of color in the state reside below the poverty line (compared to 6% of white residents), and 30% of African-American students in the state perform at grade level, compared to 65% of their white peers.

Without action to address digital access disparities, Minnesota students will continue to face challenges when learning at school and at home. We must act now to ensure affected students in Minnesota don’t fall even further behind.

Overall Partnership FAQs

+ What is the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity?

Following the murder of George Floyd, the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity (the Coalition) was formed to create an inclusive, just and prosperous state through partnerships.

+ What is the Digital Learning Fund?

The work of the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity has included identifying the need for and establishing the Digital Learning Fund to support digital learning for students who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color students with 80% of funds raised distributed in the Twin Cities and 20% to Greater MN.

Through a partnership with ConnectedMN, the Digital Learning Fund will help ensure students from high-need and underserved communities have the tools and support they need to participate in digital learning and digital life. Initiative dollars will support a variety of strategies, such as access to devices, internet connectivity, safe learning spaces, mental health support and more.

+ What is ConnectedMN?

Partnership for a Connected Minnesota, also known as ConnectedMN, is a public-private partnership working to bring tech devices, internet access and programmatic support to students across the state, including students who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color, students from low-income families, and students residing in rural Minnesota.

+ Who founded ConnectedMN?

ConnectedMN was founded in May of 2020 by Best Buy, Blandin Foundation, Comcast, Minnesota Business Partnership, and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, in collaboration with the Office of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan.

+ How does the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity’s Digital Learning Fund and ConnectedMN work in partnership?

Through a partnership with ConnectedMN, the Digital Learning Fund will help ensure students from high-need and underserved communities have the tools and support they need to participate in digital learning and digital life. Initiative dollars will support a variety of strategies, such as access to devices, internet connectivity, safe learning spaces, mental health support and more.

This work has been and will continue to be community informed. The Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity’s Digital Learning Fund will collaborate with ConnectedMN to ensure Digital Learning Fund dollars are distributed in partnership with the community and targeted to community-identified needs.

+ Are there other organizations helping this cause?

A number of businesses support the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity’s Digital Learning Fund. As of December 15, these organizations include: 3M, Best Buy, Bush Foundation, Cargill Foundation, Carlson Family Foundation, General Mills Foundation, Mortenson, nVent Management, Opus Foundation, Target, Thrivent Financial, Travelers, and US Bank Foundation.

Additionally, many local businesses directly support ConnectedMN and have contributed to the Partnership since its launch in May of 2020. As of December 15, these organizations include: Accenture, Allianz Life Company, Andersen Corporation, Best Buy, Blandin Foundation, Boston Scientific, Bush Foundation, Comcast, Ecolab Foundation, Ernst & Young, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Fans of the Minnesota State Fair, Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, GHR Foundation, Land O’Lakes, Mardag Foundation, Minneapolis Foundation, Minnesota Business Partnership, Minnesota Twins, Protolabs Foundation, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Securian Financial, SPS Commerce Foundation, Vantage Financial, and Xcel Energy. See our "About Us" tab for the most up to date list.

Additionally, ConnectedMN accepts donations from individual donors at GiveMN.

 

Role of the Governor’s Office FAQs

+ What role does the Governor’s Office play in the partnership?

The founding partners of ConnectedMN are working in collaboration with the Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan to identify and focus resources on school districts, nonprofits and community partners that are most in need of computing devices and internet connectivity.

+ Are taxpayer dollars being used for this initiative?

No taxpayer dollars are being contributed to the fund, and the Governor and State do not have a role in fundraising or directing funds for ConnectedMN or the Minnesota Business Partnership for Racial Equity.

+ Is public sector funding being contributed to this fund?

We are working in collaboration with the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet, but public sector funding is not being contributed to this fund.

+ In general, are public dollars being used toward devices and connectivity?

This summer, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor prioritized the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) dollars to meet technology and connectivity challenges, with approximately $14 million earmarked for districts to prioritize devices and connectivity.

MDE has prioritized distributions of GEER and the discretionary Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) fund dollars to districts with the highest numbers of students receiving special education, students of color, homeless students, English language learners, and students who qualify for free and reduced price meals. Districts applying for these funds should visit MDE’s website. MDE’s website.

+ Why a public and private partnership?

The goal of working together – the state and ConnectedMN – is to share information to ensure that each dollar stretches as far as possible to reach as many Minnesota students and families – ultimately ensuring more students are set up for success.

Working with the Digital Learning Fund enables ConnectedMN to further build on the strength of shared goals, creating more streamlined opportunities for organizations serving students and families.