Browse Ambrook’s collection of grants, loans, discounts, cost shares, easements, and insurance for connectivity.

To complete an application for this program, you must be pre-registered with the System for Award Management (SAM) and also have a Unique Entity ID (UEI) number. Neither of these applications cost money, but they can take time so be sure to get this taken care of immediately. If you are already registered with these systems, you do not need to register again.
Once you have completed the above steps, applicants wishing to apply for a Community Connect broadband grant online can do so at https://rus-apply.rd.usda.gov.

USDA Loan Origination and Approval Division

The grant program offers financial assistance to eligible applicants that will&#x2004;construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas. 


The Community Connect program helps rural communities receive access where broadband service is least likely to be commercially available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for people and businesses. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet for jobs, education, healthcare, public safety and community development. 



The grant program offers financial assistance to eligible applicants that will construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas. 

The Community Connect program helps rural communities receive access where broadband service is least likely to be commercially available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for people and businesses. The projects funded by these grants help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet for jobs, education, healthcare, public safety and community development. 

Eligible applicants include:
- State and local governments 
- Federally recognized Tribes
- Nonprofits
- For-profit corporations
- Limited liability companies

What is an eligible area? Rural areas that lack broadband service as defined in the most recent funding announcement are eligible. 

How may the funds be used?
- The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land or buildings used to deploy broadband service for:
    - all residential and business customers located within the Proposed Funded Service Area
    - all participating essential community facilities (such as public schools, fire stations, public libraries, and public safety stations)
- The cost of providing broadband service free of charge to the essential community facilities for 2 years
- Up to 10 percent of the grant may be used for the improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a community center that provides online access to the public

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

A lump sum of money for a specific purpose that does not need to be paid back.

Grant

- Community Connect Program Map
- ARR Resolution Instructions and Samples
- SF 424 (pdf)
- Community Connect Application Checklist
- Community Connect Application Guide
- Schedule H-1 | Pro Forma 5-Year Financial Forecast Single Application 
- Schedule F1 & F2
- Community Connect Grant Program Standard Grant Agreement (pdf)
- Community Connect Portal User Guide
- Telecommunications Program Funded Service Areas Map

HVAC

Lighting

Repairs

Buildings

Construction

Fencing

Greenhouse

High Tunnel

Irrigation

Storage

Other program requirements include:
- Documentation supporting the scoring criteria
- An executive summary of the proposed project
- Grantees must have legal authority to provide, construct, operate and maintain the proposed facilities or services
- Partnerships with other federal, state, local, private, and nonprofit entities are encouraged
- For additional details, see 7 CFR, 1739 Matching funds of at least 15 percent from non-federal sources are required and can be used for operating costs. 

The Application is quite short and easy but requires some preparation.
Step 1: Find your DUNS number or apply for one.
Step 2: Document your expenses and intended expenses, making sure to have receipts or other documentation for the past expenses. (Ambrook created a template to help users itemize their expenses and apply for this program. Download it here as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or make an online copy here in Google Sheets.)
Step 3: Fill out the two-page online application on the USDA's website before 11:59 p.m. ET on November 22, 2021. 
The last potentially confusing part of the application is selecting the appropriate “Eligible Industry” from the drop down list. We suggest you peruse the options (go to this census link for more information on each), and choose the one that most closely describes your operation. 
Special note for livestock producers: Common livestock like cattle, hogs and poultry are not included under the eligible animal production industry categories. You may want to check under the food processing industries to see if your business qualifies. For example, poultry producers that process onsite may qualify under the category "Poultry processing."

Applicants must have a DUNS number to apply. A DUNS number is free but can take up to 5 business days to receive. Ambrook recommends applying for a DUNS number as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline for this program. Go to this website or call (866) 705-5711 to start the process.

If you are selected for a PRS grant, you will need to make an account at SAM.gov and connect it to your DUNS number.

AMS PRS Support Team

The Pandemic Response&#x2004;and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to specialty crop producers and processors, other select producers, meat and other processors, distributors, and farmers markets to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID–19). Eligibility is generally open to businesses with less than $5 million in average annual revenue and with less than 500 full-time employees. 


It is free to apply to this program. The application is short and easy, and you can apply in these three steps:

**Step 1**: Find your [DUNS](https://www.dnb.com/duns-number/get-a-duns.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=get_a_duns_numbers_sitelinks-nc-60ec67f47efcc8044131cbf3&utm_term=getadunsnumber_sitelink&mt=exact&_bt=532576631948&_bk=dun%20and%20bradstreet&_bm=e&_bn=g&_bg=123224853823&gclid=CjwKCAjw2P-KBhByEiwADBYWCu7U57wynkIYzYcxV3R6_nVyef_xgNp84XTzat1hHD_xBRuo9xkE8xoCKRMQAvD_BwE) number or apply for one.

**Step 2**: Document your expenses and intended expenses, making sure to have receipts or other documentation for the past expenses. (Ambrook created a template to help users itemize their expenses and apply for this program. Download it here as a [Microsoft Excel](https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1tuKQpQZiI2hOPSngydn5tJCnHMINbI0W) spreadsheet or make an online copy here in [Google Sheets](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-PxyD6tZ9BdPzc4sIPU7BV63CGwmzNP6d6sxNTnH9vU/copy).)

**Step 3**: Fill out the [two-page online application](https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda?id=grant_application_page_1) on the USDA's website before 11:59 p.m. ET on November 22, 2021


You can read more about the template and the program in our [long-form post about it](https://ambrook.com/blog/you-should-apply-to-the-pandemic-response-and-safety-prs-grant-program).



The Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program provides grants to specialty crop producers and processors, other select producers, meat and other processors, distributors, and farmers markets to respond to coronavirus, including for measures to protect workers against novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID–19). Eligibility is generally open to businesses with less than $5 million in average annual revenue and with less than 500 full-time employees. 

It is free to apply to this program. The application is short and easy, and you can apply in these three steps:
Step 1: Find your DUNS number or apply for one.
Step 2: Document your expenses and intended expenses, making sure to have receipts or other documentation for the past expenses. (Ambrook created a template to help users itemize their expenses and apply for this program. Download it here as a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet or make an online copy here in Google Sheets.)
Step 3: Fill out the two-page online application on the USDA's website before 11:59 p.m. ET on November 22, 2021

You can read more about the template and the program in our long-form post about it.

Applicant must have a DUNS number to apply. A DUNS number is free but can take up to 5 business days to receive. Ambrook recommends applying for a DUNS number as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline for this program. Go to this website or call (866) 705-5711 to start the process.
This first round of Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant Program funding is open to most small producers, food processors and distributors, and farmers markets, as long as the applicant's operation is smaller than the maximum size standards for that industry (quoted below).
- All farmers markets
- Crop Production with Average Annual Receipts less than $5 Million
- Animal Production and Aquaculture with Average Annual Receipts less than $5 Million (Special note for livestock producers: Common livestock like cattle, hogs and poultry are not included under the eligible animal production industry categories. You may want to check under the food processing industries to see if your business qualifies. For example, poultry producers that process onsite may qualify under the category "Poultry processing.") 
- Post-Harvest Crop Activities with Average Annual Receipts less than $30 Million
- Food Manufacturing with fewer than 500 employees. Many subsectors of Food Manufacturing are eligible all the way up to 1,250 employees—see this page for the exceptions
- Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods with fewer than 500 employees
- Warehousing and Storage with Average Annual Receipts less than $30 Million
- Production and processing activities unrelated to human food, such as ornamental fish production or refrigeration and storage of fur, are not eligible to apply for funds

Allowable Outcomes and Activities
Implement workplace safety measures to protect workers against COVID-19
- Provide personal protective equipment, thermometers, cleaning supplies, sanitizer, or hand washing stations
- Install and purchase air filters or new signage
Implement market pivots to protect workers against COVID–19
- Develop and implement online platforms
- Use online or print materials to communicate market pivots
Retrofitting facilities for worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID–19
- Install and purchase protective barriers made of plexiglass or plastic sheeting, walk up windows, heat lamps/heaters, fans, tents, propane, weights, tables, chairs and lighting
Provide additional transportation options to maintain social distancing and worker and consumer safety to protect against COVID-19
- Secure additional transportation services for workers
- Offer new delivery routes or distribution services
Provide worker housing that protects workers against COVID-19
- Secure additional housing resources/services to maintain social distancing or to allow for quarantining of new or exposed employees
Provide health services to protect workers against COVID-19
- Offer or enable vaccinations, testing, or healthcare treatment of infected employees, including any paid leave due to COVID-19 infection

- Frequently Asked Questions
- How to Check Your Eligibility for PRS Funding
- How to Apply for a Free DUNS Number 
- Ambrook's Guide to Applying to PRS

Coronavirus

Trade Relief

Trees

Weather

Wildfire

Certification

Distribution

Diversification

Events

Trade Show

Nutrition & Food Safety

Drought

Flood

Hurricane

Tornado

Certified Organic

Public Health

Compliance

Emergency

Marketing

Local Food

Food Systems

- Grant Recipients must retain receipts and other supporting documents related to the cost of the goods and services needed to achieve the outcomes identified in their PRS application.
- Grant Recipients must submit copies of records and cost documentation upon the request.
- Grant Recipients certify that they will not use the Payment to cover costs that have been reimbursed from other sources or that other sources are obligated to reimburse.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.

List of Agricultural Funding for Connectivity