On January 20, 2024, the Willmar City Council will evaluate bids for the first phase of the Willmar Connect project, a significant initiative aimed at establishing a city-wide, city-owned broadband network. The meeting is scheduled for 18:30 at the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services building, located at 2200 23rd Street N.E. in Willmar. This session has been moved to Tuesday due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday observed on Monday.
The Willmar Connect project has been under research and planning since early 2023, with the goal of providing open access broadband services throughout the city. The city has engaged Hometown Fiber to assist with the network’s design, manage the phased construction, and operate the network, which will allow multiple internet service providers (ISPs) to deliver services. These ISPs will pay fees to the city, which is expected to generate sufficient revenue to cover the debt and interest associated with approximately $24.5 million in bonds allocated for the project’s construction.
The lowest bid for phase one was submitted by NC3 of Clearbrook, Minnesota, totaling approximately $7.6 million. Phase one will focus on all businesses and residences located west of First Street South, between U.S. Highway 12 and 19th Avenue. The estimated cost of this first phase is around $7.8 million. Subsequent phases will expand the network into the southern and eastern areas of Willmar, with an anticipated cost of about $7 million each for phases two and three.
Residents and interested parties can access the full agenda and meeting materials on the city’s official website at willmarmn.gov, under the mayor and council section for agendas, minutes, and videos pertaining to meetings throughout 2026. This project represents a significant investment in the city’s infrastructure and aims to enhance connectivity for the community.
