A Tradition of Community Support

Park Region Telephone and associated companies Valley Telephone, Rothsay Telephone, and Otter Tail Telcom, have a strong tradition of supporting community needs throughout our service areas.

We regard partnerships with nonprofit organizations as an important investment in the future of communities we serve and add to the vitality of our company. Over time, we have participated in and assisted with many community projects and festivals, educational programs, youth sports activities, local government, health programs, and nonprofit organizations. To achieve the greatest benefit from available funding, we focus on events or programs that directly impact the communities we serve.

Donation Guidelines

Donations, given in the form of cash or merchandise, are one of our ways of giving back to area communities. The cooperative’s donation policy allows for an annual amount, based on the number of access lines in an exchange, that is designated to be used on a first-come, first-served basis to non-political, non-religious organizations located within Park Region’s service area. Click here for a donation request form.

Community Grant Program

The Foundation for Rural Service awards grants through the Community Grant Program up to $5,000 for nonprofit organizations in our communities doing great work. These grants are an opportunity for NTCA members to amplify the ways we are supporting our communities. These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high-quality life in rural America. The grants awarded each November support a variety of projects concentrated in four major categories:

Business and Economic Development – Devise a plan to turn your community into a global phenomenon by growing small or existing businesses, developing new ones, and implementing a job creation program that attracts key talent from your community or from skilled individuals interested in relocating to small town America.

Community Development – Develop an outreach program that helps to promote advancing technology skills of your community members, incorporates innovation into learning, raises the visibility of your community’s talent and artistry, and places your town on everyone’s bucket list as the place to visit.

Education – Support advances in education by helping your school’s technology (computers, smart boards, etc.) in the classroom, build resources for curriculum development, strengthen extracurricular activities and programs, and promote distance learning programs.

Telecommunications Applications – Show how you plan to turn your community into a technological powerhouse by promoting the implementation and use of broadband-enabled applications for telehealth, education, government services, safety and security, and efficient energy distribution and use.

As an NTCA member, Park Region encourages organizations in our communities to apply for the Community Grant Program. Applications for the grant program are due to the Underwood or Fergus Falls office by August 15, 2022. Click here to view the FRS Community Grant Flyer & Application Guide.

Fairs, Parades & Trade Shows

We enjoy participating in many of the area parades throughout the summer and also have a display booth at the West Otter Tail County Fair in July. Our sales team is also available to demonstrate our latest technology at area trade shows throughout the year.

Youth Scholarships

Minnesota Telecom Alliance Foundation Scholarship

The Minnesota Telecom Alliance, of which Park Region Telephone Company is a member, has established a Foundation and awards $2,000 scholarships to seven high school seniors. To be eligible, applicants must be attending post secondary education at either a university, college, or technical college, be a Minnesota resident, and the applicant’s family must subscribe to at least one service from Park Region Telephone, Otter Tail Telcom, Rothsay Telephone or Valley Telephone. The application window will open in January and will close in February. Contact us for scholarship and deadline information.

Foundation for Rural Services (FRS) Scholarship

Foundation for Rural Services (FRS), along with the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA) and its members, strongly promotes the continuing education of rural youth. As your local telecommunications service provider, we are happy to offer this national scholarship program to our customers’ high school seniors. To be eligible, the applicant must be a graduating high school senior whose family subscribes to at least one service from Park Region Telephone, Otter Tail Telcom, Rothsay Telephone or Valley Telephone. The application window is now open and will close February 8, 2023. Visit https://www.frs.org/programs/youth-programs/scholarships/ to find a link to the scholarship and deadline information.

Youth Trip

Park Region is proud to sponsor one high school student on a trip of a lifetime! The selected student will attend the 2023 Foundation for Rural Service Youth Tour in Washington, D.C. with all expenses paid by Park Region!

The annual FRS Youth Tour brings more than 100 rural students from across the United States to Washington, D.C. for a 5-day tour to learn about legislative and government processes and importance of quality broadband connections. While there, students will tour famous historical sites and monuments, meet with Federal Communications Commission and congressional staff, build relationships with peers that can last a lifetime and much more!

To be eligible to apply, the applicant must be a high school student age 15, 16 or 17 at the time of the tour. The student’s family must also subscribe to service with Park Region.

STUDENTS, HERE’S HOW TO APPLY: Simply write an essay focusing on why you would like to attend the youth tour and your interest in learning more about the broadband industry. The essay should be 500 words or less. Be sure to include your name, birthdate, parent’s name, home address, and phone number with the essay. All essays are due to Park Region by March 1st and can be mailed to Park Region, c/o Sue Jensen, PO Box 277, Underwood, MN 56586 or dropped off at our offices in Fergus Falls or Underwood. Apply today for your chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. and see our nation’s capital in action!