The Community Connect Grant Program (Community Connect Program) is designed to provide financial assistance to provide service at the Broadband Grant Speed in rural, economically-challenged communities that lack access to 25 Mbps/3 Mbps. Grant funds may be used to: (1) deploy service at the Broadband Grant Speed to essential community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses, (2) construct, acquire, or expand a community center, and (3) equip a community center that provides free access to service at the Broadband Grant Speed to community residents for at least two years. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for entities to serve all premises in eligible rural areas at the Broadband Grant Speed to ensure rural consumers enjoy the same quality and range of broadband services as are available in urban and suburban communities.
2021 awardees can be viewed at https://www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/cc_awardsby_application_fiscalyear2021.pdf
2019 awardees can be viewed at https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/USDARD_CommunityConnect_CHART100719.pdf
This notice is being issued prior to passage of an FY 2025 appropriations act in order to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare their applications and give the Agency time to process applications within FY 2025. Based on FY 2024 appropriated funding, the Agency estimates that approximately $26 million will be available, for FY 2025. These grant funds will be made available to eligible applicants to construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas.
Eligible applicants include:
Rural areas that lack any existing terrestrial broadband speed of at least 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream are eligible.
The application window will open on February 20, 2025. Completed applications are due April 21, 2025 by 11:59 a.m. ET.
Approximately $26 million will be available for FY 2025. Award amounts vary. Individual awards range from $100,000 to $5,000,000 each. A 15% cash match is required; in-kind contributions are not eligible to be used to satisfy the required match. Projects will last 3 years. The anticipated award date is September 2025.
While prior Community Connect grants cannot be renewed, existing Community Connect awardees can submit applications for new projects. The Agency will evaluate project proposals from existing awardees as new applications. Only one grant application per applicant is eligible for approval under this grant opportunity.