Community Connect Grant Program
Agency: Rural Utilities Service
- 10.863 -- Community Connect Grant Program
Archived opportunityLast Updated: May 13, 2026
View version history on Grants.gov
Description
On December 19, 2023, the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) published a correction notice in the Federal Register. The correction notice makes important changes to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Community Connect Program for Fiscal Year 2023, published on March 20, 2023, and extends the Community Connect Program application window until February 20, 2024. The correction notice revises the definition of an eligible Proposed Funded Service Area (PFSA) under the Community Connect Program to ensure the program is administered in compliance with the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). Under the revised definition, a PFSA must lack access to broadband service of 10 Megabits per second (Mbps) downstream plus 1 Mbps upstream to be eligible for consideration for Community Connect Program funding. Additionally, any areas that have received other federal funding to construct terrestrial broadband facilities providing at least 10/1 Mbps service in the project’s PFSA will be deemed ineligible. Any applicant that applied for the Community Connect Program under the March 20, 2023, NOFO must resubmit their application in order to be considered for funding. RUS recognizes that this requirement may result in delays and additional work for FY 2023 applicants. In an effort to minimize the amount of time required to resubmit an application from the FY 2023 funding window, applicants with previously submitted applications will have access to the submitted application data and will have the opportunity to make any edits before resubmitting the application. It is strongly encouraged that applicants review the new eligibility information to ensure that the previously submitted application is still eligible. The extended application window will also be open to new applicants that meet Community Connect Program eligibility requirements.
...The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained herein.
The regulation for the Community Connect Grant Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1739.
All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2023 Community Connect Grant Program Application Guide (Application Guide) and program resources. This Application Guide can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant’s own risk. Applications will be submitted through the Community Connect Portal application system available on the program web site.
The Agency encourages applications that will help improve life in rural America. See information on the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity found at www.usda.gov/ruralprosperity. Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that provide measurable results in helping rural communities build robust and sustainable economies through strategic investments in infrastructure, partnerships and innovation. Key strategies include:
- Achieving e-Connectivity for Rural America
- Developing the Rural Economy
- Harnessing Technological Innovation
- Supporting a Rural Workforce
- Improving Quality of Life
Eligibility
Eligible applicants
Government
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- State governments
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- County governments
Business
- Small businesses
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
Nonprofit
- Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
- Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
- Other Native American tribal organizations
Additional information
Grantor contact information
Description
Community Connect Help Desk Email
Documents
| File name | Description | Last updated |
|---|---|---|
| RD-RUS-508-CommunityConnectCorrectionNoticeAndFAQs_v2.pdf | Revised Notice FAQs | Dec 19, 2023 11:01 AM UTC |
| NOFO12192023.pdf | Revised NOFO | Dec 19, 2023 11:00 AM UTC |
| 2023-05549.pdf | Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) | Mar 20, 2023 07:03 PM UTC |
| CCApplicationGuideFY23_Extended_to_post.pdf | Community Connect Application Guide | Dec 19, 2023 10:58 AM UTC |
Link to additional information
Archived: March 21, 2024
Award
$79,000,000
Program Funding
50
Expected awards
$100,000
Award Minimum
$5,000,000
Award Maximum
Funding opportunity number:
RDRUS-CC-2023
Cost sharing or matching requirement:
Funding instrument type:
Grant
Opportunity Category:
Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Category of Funding Activity:
Regional development
Business and commerce
Community development
Category Explanation:
History
Version:
4
Posted date:
March 20, 2023
Archive date:
March 21, 2024
