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Councilmember raises local broadband speeds as economic-development concern
Summary
A councilmember urged future study of Marshall’s internet speeds after feedback from a recent business owner; staff acknowledged gaps and suggested exploring grants.
A councilmember told the City Council that a recent local business owner who moved from Mankato had complained that Marshall’s internet speeds lag behind peer cities, prompting a suggestion the city investigate broadband improvements to support business attraction.
"She came from Mankato and she says that they have a lot higher speed Internet," the councilmember said in a council remarks segment. The councilmember said the business owner now works for a local taxi-accounting firm and raised the point as a matter the city should examine to stay competitive with communities such as Mankato and St. Cloud.
City staff member Sharon responded that the councilmember’s report was "somewhat accurate," and council members discussed the possibility of seeking grant funding or other programs to improve local internet access. No formal direction, study request, or spending decision was made at the meeting; the matter was raised as an informational item for future consideration.
Council members framed the issue as part of business-attraction efforts rather than a current infrastructure project. There were no public comments recorded on the broadband question during the meeting.
