| Endorsement | Org & Title | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Dan Sparks Official Letter of Endorsement | Minnesota State Senator | |
| Tim Waltz Official Letter of Endorsement | United States Congressman | |
| Tom Stiehm My name is Tom Stiehm, and I am the mayor of Austin, Minnesota. Austin is a rural community of 23,000+ people surrounded by farmland and woods in southeastern Minnesota. We have a diverse population and an excellent school system, including a community college. Our economy is based on agriculture, specifically food processing. We are the home of Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 company. The company’s flagship plant and corporate offices are both located here. We are also home to The Hormel Institute, a world leader in the field of cancer research. And our medical facilities are part of the Mayo health care system. The City of Austin is devoted to the development of high tech industry. We are also committed to the development of alternative energy sources and to reducing our carbon footprint. Our city is an ideal location for Google to locate a high speed broadband network. I am proud to endorse Austin’s bid and hope you show your support. | Mayor of Austin | |
| Douglas L. Wood, M.D. The Austin Medical Center of the Mayo Health System and the Center for Innovation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota have completed in depth studies of the patterns of health care utilization by citizens of Austin and have identified several important opportunities that would be substantially helped by a collaboration with Google. Specifically, the Google project would facilitate the ability to deliver health care in the community in ways that would address the concerns of Austin citizens. The broadband connectivity taken to the home would make health more accessible, interactions with health care providers less complex and less frightening and would help to reduce health care costs. The direct connection of the Austin Medical Center to people at home, school and work would mean better health care without delays and unnecessary disruptions of daily life. Costs could be reduced by eliminating more expensive office visits and ancillary tests when not needed. The comfort of individuals would be enhanced by the ability to make health care connections when needed. The Austin Medical Center of the Mayo Health System and the Center for Innovation at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota enthusiastically support the proposal of the City of Austin to pursue collaborations with Google and are hopeful for the prospect of this work together. | Douglas L. Wood, M.D. Consultant in Cardiovascular Diseases Professor of Medicine Medical Director, Quality Academy Chair, Division of Health Care Policy and Research Mayo Clinic | aghmaWJlcnJma XIUCxILQXBwbGljYX Rpb24YiYa4Agw |
| Dr. David Agerter & Adam Rees The Austin Medical Center (AMC) believes Austin MN and the surrounding rural communities would be ideal for Google to invest in an ultra-highspeed broadband network. Our medical center is committed to transforming healthcare to everyone in our community. What makes us unique is our local fully integrated delivery system (Hospital and Clinic) affiliated with the world famous Mayo Clinic. AMC has partnered with Mayo Clinic’s Center for Innovation to create a state of the art medical home delivery system. We plan to transform the patient and family experience with the health care delivery system to achieve better health for the individual and the population, reduce costs and improve value over time. This requires all of Austin’s key community agencies to join together and work to improve community health and wellness. This will require major investments in new technology that will reach all persons in all locations. We are confident, with Google’s investment, that we will achieve these ambitious goals! | Dr. David Agerter CEO Adam Rees CAO | aghmaWJlcnJma XIUCxILQXBwbGljYX Rpb24Y2YS5Agw
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| Jeff Ettinger I’m Jeff Ettinger, president and CEO of Hormel Foods Corporation. I’m excited about bringing the Google Fiber project to Austin, Minnesota, and want to help spread the word about why, “We Gig It!” High speed networks and economic development are intrinsically connected. The Google Fiber network represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring a new generation of applications and resources to our homes, workplaces, schools and institutions. Austin has it all — a world-class cancer research center at the Hormel Institute; cutting-edge patient care at the Austin Medical Center branch of the Mayo Clinic; and a community college and education system involved in partnerships with the University of Minnesota, thanks to the science and technology focus of the Hormel Foundation. All of this in the background of a rural and agriculture-based county. We’re unlike any community that calls the headquarters of a Fortune 500 company home. And speaking of Fortune 500 companies, no one else can boast as one of their iconic products, the other SPAM! We’ve been making SPAM luncheon meat at Hormel Foods since 1937. Our track record of success and innovation goes back over 100 years. But we are increasingly aware that the success or failure of business is driven by the broad and rapid sharing of information. Today, we operate facilities, manage employees and sell products in countries throughout the world – all from Austin. Partly because we are in such a remote location, we have had to rely heavily on a growing digital infrastructure to manage our operations and to communicate with our consumers. As a community, we’re growing and we’re changing. And that is why Austin, Minnesota is the perfect location for Google to test its Google Fiber ultra-highspeed broadband network. This community understands, better than most, the value of technology in connecting it to the rest of the world. I urge everyone with an interest in this community’s continued economic growth to support the Google for Austin, MN campaign. | CEO Hormel | aghmaWJlcnJma XIUCxILQXBwbGljYX Rpb24Yk_u4Agw |
| Todd Penske “Telecommunications is the fuel of CRC, like the Internet and World Wide Web are for Google,” said Todd Penske, Cooperative Response Center, Inc.’s (CRC’s) President and CEO. “The opportunity for the businesses and residents of Austin to participate in Google’s ultra-high speed Internet pilot program will inspire innovation, progress, and growth throughout the community.” | CEO CRC | |
| Terry Leas Access is a fundamental underpinning of the American community college. The most democratic of higher education institutions, community colleges assist virtually anyone who can benefit from their services, said Dr. Terry Leas, Riverland Community College president. " This access is especially important to people living in greater Minnesota. We believe the GoogleAustinmn.com project will further our goals to provide access to our students and community." | President Riverland Community College | |
| Tammy Kritzer Austin, MN is uniquely positioned. We have a long history of innovative partnerships which make our community an optimal candidate for this new technology: 1. University of MN and Mayo Clinic have the Hormel Institute in town. These researchers partner with scientist all over the world regarding cancer studies. They have an IBM Blue Jean super computer which aides in information processing. Fast connectivity would speed research efforts and improve collaboration with other researchers around the globe. 2. The world famous Mayo Clinic’s Center for Innovation is partnering with the local Austin Medical Center to find new ways to care for patients. They are focused on creating methods to care for people in their homes and keep them out of hospitals. Together, they have hired a cultural anthropologist to study the community. They have discovered that Austin is rich in social services and health and wellness programs for a community our size, but the services are not connected and it’s difficult for citizens to navigate the system. To optimize community health, we need tools to connect these services. 3. Austin has an active small business community supported and energized by the local Chamber of Commerce. Austin also has a proactive Development Corporation established to bring new business opportunities to town. 4. A fortune 500 company is located in our small community. . 5. We have incredible educational facilities. Our public school system received a grant from the Hormel Foundation which as allowed for one-of-a-kind science infrastructure improvements as well as advanced teacher support and training from the University of MN. Riverland Community College as a state of the art health sciences teaching lab. 6. Despite our rural location and relatively small size, our community is diverse and has a long history of collaborative and innovative partnerships. These relationships are already in place and will allow for fast adoption of ultra high speed internet services when they arrive. 7. We have a public utility which owns 97% of the utility poles in our community. This will simplify implementation and deployment of this new technology making adoption more seamless than other communities. Come for a visit…you’ll be impressed with what you see!!!!! | AMC Vice-President | aghmaWJlcnJmaX IUCxILQXBwbGljYX Rpb24Yk8zsAQw |
| Mary Anne Wolesky This is a wonderful opportunity for Austin Medical Center Nursing as this would facilitate new models of health care delivery to our patients and families. We are nurses in a rural community who innovate and want to help create a future that respects and reaches all of our diverse patients and families whereever they may be. We GIG it! | RN, Vice President Austin Medical Center | |
| David Krenz To Whom It May Concern: This letter is sent on behalf of the Austin Public School District to express our strong support of the Google broadband project proposal being submitted by the Google for Austin, MN, Committee. By way of background, the Austin Public School District is a PK-12 public school district which serves 4452 students and is proud of the high-quality education we provide to a diverse student population. High speed broadband access will prove essential in our mission to educate our students for a global economy. As Austin Public Schools are currently experiencing growth and intense demographic change, we have to move beyond the traditional structures of education and provide e-learning experiences for our students. If educational institutions do not provide the high speed access to students, we are in jeopardy of not only losing the competitive edge, but also could possibly lose students to online learning opportunities. It is in our best interest to stay competitive in the global market and support teachers and students with opportunities to communicate, collaborate and cultivate technological skills for the 21st Century. We hope that you will award Austin, MN, as a Google Fiber finalist for the high-speed broadband network as proposed. Thank you for your consideration. | Superintendent of Schools | |
| Ron Langrell Navigation speed on the internet is critical to workforce, economic, and community development in the rural setting. "Successful implementation of GoogleAustinMn.com would enable an affordable, very high-quality, connection to an increasingly diverse, remotely-located, multi-state employer and student clientele that demands elevated internet-based access, speed, and support services" said Dr. Ron Langrell, chief academic and student affairs officer for Riverland Community College. | Riverland College Executive Vice President | aghmaWJlcnJmaXIUCxIL QXBwbGljYXRpb 24Y-My2Agw |
Austin eyes Google’s super-fast broadband
Having a super high speed internet connection that would allow full time, rapid dissemination of video and other complex information would be great.
We need full access to our medical files and have internet access for all our medical needs. Just think… what if we could leave an email for our doctor, know the costs of a particular medical procedure and have the insurance folks, medicare folks and the hospital all communicate so the hospital could get paid within 3 working days. Now that would be a revolution. And it could be possible if we are all connected with fiber optics.
It will only happen if we try.
Well said, Jim!
Hey Google for Austin people…I couldn’t be happier about this great project. why the grumpy face for me!!
I am so excited that the city is even trying to do this! I would love to see my daughter get the best education ever
I’m Jeff Ettinger, president and CEO of Hormel Foods Corporation. I’m excited about bringing the Google Fiber project to Austin, Minnesota, and want to help spread the word about why, “We Gig It!”
High speed networks and economic development are intrinsically connected. The Google Fiber network represents an unprecedented opportunity to bring a
new generation of applications and resources to our homes, workplaces, schools and institutions.
Austin has it all — a world-class cancer research center at the Hormel Institute; cutting-edge patient care at the Austin Medical Center branch of
the Mayo Clinic; and a community college and education system involved in partnerships with the University of Minnesota, thanks to the science and technology focus of the Hormel Foundation. All of this in the background
of a rural and agriculture-based county. We’re unlike any community that calls the headquarters of a Fortune 500 company home.
And speaking of Fortune 500 companies, no one else can boast as one of their iconic products, the other SPAM! We’ve been making SPAM luncheon
meat at Hormel Foods since 1937. Our track record of success and innovation goes back over 100 years. But we are increasingly aware that the success or failure of business is driven by the broad and rapid sharing
of information. Today, we operate facilities, manage employees and sell products in countries throughout the world – all from Austin. Partly because we are in such a remote location, we have had to rely heavily on a
growing digital infrastructure to manage our operations and to communicate with our consumers.
As a community, we’re growing and we’re changing. And that is why Austin, Minnesota is the perfect location for Google to test its Google Fiber ultra-highspeed broadband network. This community understands, better than most, the value of technology in connecting it to the rest of the world.
I urge everyone with an interest in this community’s continued economic growth to support the Google for Austin, MN campaign.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Austin Medical Center Nursing as this would facilitate new models of health care delivery to our patients and families. We are nurses in a rural community who innovate and want to help create a future that respects and reaches all of our diverse patients and families whereever they may be. We GIG it!
Mary Anne Wolesky, RN Vice President Austin Medical Center
I agree with every point the Hormel CEO made. Bring it to Austin!
Austin has so many unique features to make it the perfect community for Google to install their fiber network – Hormel Institute, Riverland Community College, Hormel Co. (the only Fortune 500 company in outstate Minnesota!),excellent school system, a growing, diverse population and we have our own special form of SPAM! Welcome Google!
I have been in Austin since 1993 and have seen this community grow in many ways. Progress has always been a keyword in Austin. Google fiber network will be a great asset in Austin’s continued progress though out the community. I feel very strongly that this network will impact the 1300 employees at QPP in a postive way. Helping us to continue to grow.
As a ESGR Region 6 Chair. I also have to contact returning military personnel every day. ESGR is a branch of Secretary of Defense. We need to be connected to the State and National Programs. Austin need fiber optics for the Hormel Corp, Austin Medical Center a Satellite of Mayo Clinic, Our Hormel Institute with all of their Cancer Research needs to be in contact with the medical Triad (Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota and Austin) Cancer Research is a high priority in the lives of many people at every level of our society. Plus a a Military Veterans Officer, I need to be in contact people all over the U.S. These are all high priorities that are a necessity and asset in our world of technology.
Letters of our community have spelled out very adequately the needs of our community and the desire we in Austin have to provide leadership moving forward. The groups that I am associated with are very dependent upon the internet for communication, particularly the speed of communication. As a result our community would benefit mightally by having the new high speed internet system that Google has proposed become a part of our community.
Malcolm McDonald EdD.
Retired School Administrator