The Rural Utilities Service (RUS) within USDA is soliciting applications for grants up to $11.7 million to establish broadband in unserved rural communities through the RUS “Community Connect” program. The minimum grant amount is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount is $3,000,000.
The purpose for the grant program is to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants to provide broadband services to currently unserved, lower income, and extremely rural areas. By providing for the deployment of new broadband services, the community-oriented connectivity concept will stimulate innovative uses and practical applications for new broadband facilities.
Grant funds may be used to finance:
- Construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, including spectrum, land or buildings, that is used to deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed to all residential and business customers located within the proposed funded Service area
- The improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a Community Center and the provision of Computer Access Points
- The cost for the necessary bandwidth for service free of charge to the Critical Community facilities for two years
Eligible applicants may include an incorporated organization, an Indian tribe or tribal organization, a state or local unit of government, a cooperative, private corporation, or a limited liability company organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
The FY 2016 application guide and materials for the grant program may be obtained through the Community connect web site at www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect grants. The deadline for submission is June 17, 2016.
For more information, contact Shawn Arner, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Loan Origination and Approval, RUS at 202-720-0800.