Lac qui Parle County has been pushing for new and innovative ways to bring technology education to their community. The Lac qui Parle Computer Commuter is a small bus that Lac qui Parle has outfitted with a multitude of computer and mobile device work stations that provide individuals with devices to try out and learn. The bus travels to cities throughout Lac qui Parle County and invites people to come on board and explore the electronics under guided instruction to provide them with information and answer any questions that they may have.
The program is part of a larger campaign to bring broadband to rural areas, and to make that technology more readily accessible to the local population as a whole. The UMVRDC was one of 11 demonstration communities for the Minnesota Intelligent Rural Communities (MIRC) program. The Lac qui Parle Computer Commuter was the local recipient of $25,000 in MIRC project funds.
Currently the Center for Small Towns is employing two students to create an analysis of the Lac qui Parle Computer Commuter’s system to help improve and benefit the program.
Interested in learning more?
The Lac qui Parle Computer Commuter is online here: http://www.lqpeda.com/broadband-initiative/computer-commuter/
The Center for Small Towns is available for questions, inquiries, suggestions or comments by calling 320-589-6451 or emailing cst@morris.umn.edu
UMVRDC’s work in the MIRC program has been documented for our website, and is available here: https://umvrdc.org/what-we-do/programs/minnesota-intelligent-rural-communities/
You can also talk with any of our community development planners by calling 320-289-1981 or by emailing info@umvrdc.org.
