community.connect@wdc.usda.gov 202.720.0800
State level contacts

The Community Connect Grant Program helps fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector providers to deliver service. Broadband service should benefit residential and business customers in a service area, as well as critical community facilities, such as healthcare, public schools, fire stations, and libraries.

Grant funds may be used to help fund:

• The construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land, or buildings used to deploy broadband service within the proposed service area
• The improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a community center that provides online access to the public
• The cost of providing broadband service free of charge to critical community facilities for 2 years

Eligible applicants include:

• State and local governments
• Federally recognized tribes
• Nonprofits
• For-profit corporations

Rural areas that lack any existing broadband speed of at least 10 Mbps downstream and 1 Mbps upstream are eligible.

Award ceiling: $3,000,000
Award floor: $100,000
Estimated number of awards: 15
Estimated total program funding: $30,000,000

A non-federal cash match of at least 15% of the total amount of financial assistance requested is required and can be used for operating costs.

Links to the full announcement and online application procedures are available through grants.gov.

Applications may be submitted in one of two ways:

• Electronically through grants.gov
• Mail paper applications to:
  
  Telecommunications Program
  Rural Utilities Service
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
  1400 Independence Ave. SW
  Room 2844 STOP 1597
  Washington, DC 20250-1597 Attn: Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Loan Origination and Approval