U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development Alaska State Director (USDA-RD) Jim Nordlund announced today that USDA-RD is soliciting applications for grants to establish broadband in unserved rural communities through its Community Connect Grants program. Community Connect is administered by USDA-RD's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and helps to fund broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not economically viable for private sector providers to provide service.
USDA-RD plans to award up to $11.7 million in grants through the Community Connect grant program. The grants fund broadband infrastructure to help foster economic growth by delivering connectivity to the global marketplace. The grants also fund broadband for community centers and public institutions.
On May 17th RUS will host a webinar focused on the Community Connect Grant Program. Presentation slides on the Community Connect Grant Program webinar are available under Forms and Resources Tab. Webinar details are available in PDF form at: Community Connect Grants program.
"Many rural communities in Alaska do not have access to broadband," said Nordlund. "USDA-RD’s Community Connect Grant Program ensures that rural residents have the ability to run businesses, get the most from their education, and benefit from the countless services that reliable high speed Internet access can provide."
For example, a $554,140 Community Connect grant was awarded in 2012 to the Tanadgusix Corporation, an Alaska Native village corporation. The construction of the broadband infrastructure is now completed and 191 customers are now connected to the new network. The St. Paul community center, which holds 10 free access computers, became operational in January 2014. The critical facilities such as the fire station, police station, city hall, the school and clinic are now connected.
The minimum grant is $100,000 for FY 2016. The maximum award is $3 million. USDA-RD announced new rules in 2013 to better target Community Connect grants to areas where they are needed the most. To view the rules, go to https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-04-18/pdf/2016-08931.pdf.
Prior Community Connect grants cannot be renewed. However, existing Community Connect awardees may submit applications for new projects, which USDA-RD will evaluate as new applications
For more information on how to apply for grants, see page 22567 of the April 18, 2016 Federal Register.
Since 2009, USDA-Rural Development has invested nearly $2 billion in 226 rural Alaskan communities. These investments in housing, community facilities, business, energy, water and sewer, telecom and electric have helped to grow rural Alaska’s economy and enhance the quality of life for its residents.