Deadline: 15 April 2019
The Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), referred to as RUS or the Agency, has announced the Community Connect Grant Program.
The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas.
Grant funds may be used to finance the following:
- The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, including spectrum, land or buildings used to deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed to all residential and business customers located within the Proposed Funded Service Area and all participating Essential Community Facilities, as defined in 7 C.F.R. 3570.53;
- The improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a Community Center that furnishes free internet access at the Broadband Grant Speed and provides Computer Access Points. Grant funds for the Community Center must not exceed the lesser of 10 percent of the requested grant amount or $150,000; and
- The cost of bandwidth necessary to provide service free of charge at the Broadband Grant Speed to each Essential Community Facility for the first two years of operation.
Key Strategies
- Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
- Developing the Rural Economy
- Harnessing Technological Innovation
- Supporting a Rural Workforce
- Improving Quality of Life
Funding Information
- Award Ceiling: $3,000,000
- Award Floor: $100,000
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Small businesses
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Independent school districts
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Special district governments
- County governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- State governments
- City or township governments
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via given website.
Eligible Country: United States
For more information, please visit https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=312842