ITC Employees, Management, and Directors are involved in the communities we serve. As proud residents of the communities where we operate, giving back is important to ITC. We not only provide services, but financial support and many volunteer hours in area organizations. ITC is a committed partner in our communities. We are building relationships that will last well into the future.
ITC has had a busy year filled with Farm Shows, Parades, and other fun events!
Check out the following ways ITC gives back to the community:
Together, We Can Boost Our Community
As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) offers aid to communities served by NTCA members through its annual Community Grant Program. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America.
FRS Community Grants are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations, schools, community groups, municipalities and other organizations doing good work in your community. Visit the FRS website for details.
Interested in applying for an FRS Community Grant? Complete the application and return to ITC by August 30, 2024.
FRS provides priority to projects that:
- Could be fully funded by the grant maximum of $5,000 or have at least 75% of the project currently funded.
- Technology and broadband enabled focused projects.
- Have a long-term impact for the community and its residents.
- Promote community participation and engagement.
- Create a more sustainable rural community.
FRS will not award projects to:
- Individuals
- Scholarship Programs
- International Organizations
- Lobbying and Political Activities
- Ticketed Events
- Infrastructure/Building Campaigns
- Security Cameras
- Capital Campaigns or Endowments
- Digital Signage
- Event Sponsorships
- Community Food Programs
- Loan Repayments
- Religious-Based Activities
- For-Profit Businesses
- Salaries of Employees or Contractors
Most of us agree that technology changes so fast, it’s hard for even the most technically savvy person to keep up. For some of us, new technologies are so overwhelming we would just as soon let the kids or grandkids take care of it.
With these thoughts in mind, ITC launched "ITC University" in 2012.
Current Class List:
- Internet 101
- Getting to Know Your Computer
- Security
- Facebook Basics & Advanced
- Backing up your Computer
- Digital Photos 101
- iPad Basics & Advanced
- Pixlr
- Roku Box/Stick
- Microsoft Work/Christmas Letter
- Genealogy
- Online Shopping
- ITC Remote/DVR/VOD
- Windows 10
- Amazon Echo/Dot
- Ask Anything!
- All About Google
- eBay/Craigslist
- Snapchat
- Streaming Video
- Zoom
The class size is limited to six students. The classes are offered to you at no charge.
If you have a class idea or would like more information, contact the ITC office at 1.800.417.8667!
OCTOBER ITC UNIVERSITY:
Streaming TV
Dates: TBD
The classes will be at 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM in each location. To sign up for class, please CLICK HERE to fill out the form or call ITC at 1.800.417.8667.
ITC is partnering with area schools to help start esports as a school activity. Esports turns online gaming into a spectator sport centered around organized, competitive gameplay. Esports requires reliable broadband infrastructure to ensure seamless gameplay and connectivity for participants and viewers. Since ITC is a broadband service provider, we are excited to partner with area schools.
Here are the benefits esports participants will experience:
- Cognitive Skills: Esports requires strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills, which can have a positive impact on academic performance.
- Teamwork: Competitive esports promotes teamwork, communication, and cooperation among students, fostering essential social skills.
- Physical Health: Esports can encourage a healthier lifestyle as players often engage in regular physical activities and healthier eating habits to maintain peak performance.
- Educational Engagement: School-sanctioned esports can also build school pride among students who don’t traditionally participate in school activities. Surveys have found esports is the first extracurricular event for as many as 80% of participating students.
- Mental Well-Being: Participation in a school-sponsored esports program can give students a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of isolation.
For the current school year, ITC partnered with Deuel School which has an active esports club. We wish those students the best of luck with their competitions.
If you have any questions about esports, please call ITC at 1.800.417.8667.
ITC and Dean E. Anderson Scholarship
Each year, ITC awards a total of twenty-four $700 scholarships to high school seniors. Scholarships are awarded to one graduating senior from each of the 23 school districts, plus one open-enrollment student in the ITC service area. Scholarship applicants and/or their parents or guardians must maintain at either ITC's Telephone or Internet services, and students must plan to attend a post-secondary institution located in either South Dakota or Minnesota. One $700 scholarship will also be awarded to a graduating senior who attends a school other than the school in the district in which he/she resides due to open enrollment. Application packets can be obtained from your school principal. Please CLICK HERE for the application and a complete listing of terms and conditions.
SDTA Memorial Scholarship
The SDTA Memorial Scholarships will be awarded to students who have completed at least two semesters of a multi-year program at any of South Dakota's accredited technical schools or two semesters at any other accredited post-secondary higher education institution in South Dakota. Applicants that attend a post-secondary higher education institution must be majoring in a program with technical skills or a field of study that is particularly useful for work in the telecommunications industry. These majors include, but are not limited to: Telecommunications; Information Systems Technology or Management; Satellite Communications; Health Information Technology; Office Technology Specialist; Programming Specialist; Network Specialist; Engineering (Computer Science or Systems, Electrical, CAD, Software, Industrial, Communications Systems, Network Security); Technologies or Computers (Communications Systems Engineering Technologies, Computer Programming, Computer Software Specialist, Computer Systems or Software, Computer Applications, Satellite Communications, Utilities Technologies, Network Technician, Internet Apps Developer, Laser/Electro-Optics, Marketing, Network Administration, System Administrator); Technology Education; and Communication Arts (Graphic or Mass Communications, Commercial Arts, Multimedia/Web Development.) The applicant must be a member/customer or have parents that are member/customers of an SDTA member company. Persons who have previously been awarded an SDATC Memorial Scholarship are not eligible to apply. The application is available at www.sdtaonline.com.
MTA Foundation Scholarship
Foundation will award six scholarships to high school seniors graduating in 2023. Each scholarship will be a one-time amount of $2,000. There are two types of scholarships this year:
- One $2,000 Jon Tollefson Technology Scholarship: To be eligible, applicants must be high school seniors with plans to major in either Telecommunications or Information Technology (IT) at a university, college, or technical college and be a Minnesota resident.
- One of five $2,000 General Scholarships: To be eligible, applicants must be a high school senior with plans on attending post-secondary education at a university, college, or technical college, be a Minnesota resident, and the applicant’s family must subscribe to at least one service from an MTA member company.
Click here for the online application. Interested applicants should fill out the scholarship form, then combine it with their high school transcript, essay, and class ranking.
FRS Scholarship
FRS Scholarships Provide Opportunities for Students to Attend College or Vocational School. The foundation annually awards scholarships to an exceptional group of rural students for their first year of college or vocational school. All applicants require a partnership with an NTCA—The Rural Broadband Association member company to be eligible.
FRS has awarded over $1 million in scholarships since its inception, empowering rural students throughout the country to advance their communities with invaluable skill sets and experiences. Click here for more details.
The Rural Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) Loan Fund is a non-profit corporation offering financing for business, agri-business, infrastructure, and community development projects that benefit rural areas.
The ITC REDI Fund provides business and community project financing in partnership with commercial and other economic development lenders to leverage private investment and make a difference in the region it serves.
Established in 1996 and governed by its Board of Directors, ITC REDI assists projects that promote growth and contribute to job, business and wealth creation, as well as improve the infrastructure, community facilities/services, and economic base of rural areas.
ITC REDI makes loans to for-profit businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and local governments. Projects include, but are not limited to:
- Small and medium sized business and cooperatives engaged in manufacturing, retail, and service industries
- Producer owned business and cooperatives that add value to agriculture
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be legal entities, sole proprietors, cooperatives, and/or units of government
- Invest a minimum of 10% equity in cash or assets of the project/business
- Provide assurance of willingness and ability to repay the loan and, provide adequate collateral
Financing cannot exceed 50% of a project’s total cost and must reasonably assist the project.
Additional conditions apply.
Areas of Assistance:
- Business and Industry: Loans support business growth and development and contribute to employment and business ownership opportunities. The loans benefit retail, service, tourism, manufacturing, and technology sectors.
- Value-Added Agriculture: To recognize agriculture’s impact on the region’s economic base, ITC REDI Loan Fund makes loans to support projects that add value to local agriculture production through innovation, improved services, further processing, or marketing. Loans are not made for traditional production agriculture.
Application Information
- Loan applications are available from various financial institutions and ITC REDI
- Applicants must submit a completed application including supporting documents outlined in the application form
- Applicants must document either the willingness of other lenders to participate in a project at reasonable terms and conditions or denial of a commercial lender to fully finance a project
- Projects must demonstrate business development, job retention/creation or tangible benefit to the community/region
- A $100 application fee is due when the application is submitted
- Applications for funding are thoroughly analyzed
- A 1% loan origination/service fee will be deducted from proceeds of supported loans
- Assistance in completing application forms is available from the ITC REDI Loan Fund