Community Connect Grants

About

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. 

• Cost Share
• Grant
• National

Eligibility

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

Terms

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. 

Similar Programs

• 

  EQIP On-Farm Energy Initiative

  Natural Resources Conservation Service

  • Grant
  • Cost Share
  • Energy
  • Conservation
  • Equipment
  • Irrigation
  • Greenhouse
  • HVAC
  • Lighting
  • Cover Crops
  • National
  • Any
• 

  Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)

  Rural Business-Cooperative Service · Due Nov 21

  • Grant
  • Cost Share
  • Loan
  • Energy
  • Biofuel
  • Equipment
  • Facilities
  • Conservation
  • Solar Power
  • Wind Energy
  • Hydro Power
  • HVAC
  • Lighting
  • Irrigation
  • National
  • Any
• 

  Water Conservation Field Services Program (WCFSP)

  U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

  • Cost Share
  • Grant
  • Conservation
  • Water Quality
  • Waterway Protection
  • Wetlands
  • Water Management
  • Irrigation
  • Equipment
  • Greenhouse
  • National
  • Any
• 

  ACEP Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP)

  Natural Resources Conservation Service · Due Aug 15

  • Easement
  • Grant
  • Cost Share
  • Conservation
  • Waterway Protection
  • Wildlife Habitats
  • Water Quality
  • Education
  • Recreation
  • Wetlands
  • National
  • Any

Details

Updated June 30, 2021

This information was gathered from public sources. Ambrook is not responsible for or able to affect the results of any financial programs listed, nor are they responsible for any incorrect information that is listed or is on the hyperlinked external sites. All information is subject to change.