Governor Mark Daytona and Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith are proposing a $100 million investment to expand rural broadband Internet access.

Smith and Dayton held a meeting in Becker on Friday about the importance of high speed Internet access. Studies show that four out of ten businesses don’t have fast Internet connection.

The governor says slow Internet access is a disadvantage to the economy of Becker and Sherburne County. The city of Becker received a $152,000 grant in 2015, but that wasn’t enough.

Smith says fast internet supports innovation and entrepreneurship. If such grants are not awarded to Minnesotans 244,000 residents would lack high speed access.