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

credit:

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 173 9.

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, Pub.

L.

115-334, has modified the name of the defined term Critical Community Facilities to Essential Community Facilities.

There are no substantive changes to the definition.

All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2019 Community Connect Grant Program Application Guide (Application Guide) and program resources.

This Application Guide can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/community-connect-grants.

Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant’s own risk.

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