Rural Development Community Connect Grant Program

The Community Connect program serves rural communities where broadband service is least likely to be available, but where it can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life for citizens. The projects funded by these grants will help rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the internet.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested more than $76.8 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in home ownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 1.5 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments.

Webinar - Applying for a Community Connect Grant
(Grant Program does not include Recovery Act Funding)

May 19, 2009

This webinar is designed for potential applicants to assist in determining eligibility and requirements for submitting a complete COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT application in our Telecommunications program.  There will be sufficient time for questions at the end of the presentation.

To register for this Webinar go to: 

https://rurdev.webex.com/rurdev/k2/j.php?ED=116108902&UID=1073290472&FM=1   

Pre-registration is required

Once you are approved by the host, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the session.

Thursday, May 7, 2009; 2:00pm EDT (CLOSED)

FISCAL YEAR 2009: $13.4 million available in Grants
2009 Application Information

• Community Connect Application Guide - [.pdf]
• Fillable SF 424 -[.pdf]
• Notice of Funds [.pdf]
• Final Rule 7CFR 1739 - August 3, 2007 [.pdf]
• FAQs - [.pdf]

Community Connect Grants Awards
Visit our grant award summaries page.

Program Notices

Notice: DUNS Number Required for All Applicants. All applicants must have a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. Any organization that applies for a Community Connect Broadband grant must provide their DUNS number on the SF-424, "Application for Federal Assistance." DUNS numbers are available without charge. See DUNS Q&A.
Notice: Registration in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR).If you want to apply for a Community Connect Broadband grant online through http://www.grants.gov/, your organization must first register in the CCR. Your organization will need a DUNS number in order to register. If your organization has received previous federal contracts, it is already registered in the CCR, but this is a good opportunity to verify that your information is up to date. For more information about the CCR, please visit the CCR web site: http://www.ccr.gov/.
Notice: Funding Opportunities Available through Grants.gov. For FY 2009, funding opportunities and contact information for the Community Connect Broadband grant program, as well as other Federal programs, will be posted at http://www.grants.gov/.

Contact Information

For Community Connect questions, please contact program staff, Long Chen and Janet Malaki at community.connect@wdc.usda.gov

Broadband Division, Telecommunications Program (202)-690-4673