A $12.2M Fiber to the Home project, in which Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in partnership with NESC worked together to submit a grant application under the USDA RUS Community Connect Program. USDA originally awarded the project to NESC (lead applicant) in 2015 and then transferred the grant to Fond du Lac in 2016. The $8.2M project was funded through a $6M grant from USDA RUS, with the remaining $2.2M funded directly by Fond du Lac. The project was the first of its kind within the MN Tribal community and went on to establish the brand “Aaniin”, under which Fond du Lac provides both voice and broadband services.