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USDA seek applicants for rural broadband grant
USDA area director Joseph Diego, center, discussed grant opportunities with—from left to right—architect Herman Cabrera, Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Tonie Tudela, Northern Islands Mayor Jerome Aldan, and former representative William Torres. (Dennis B. Chan)
TIYAN, Guam—USDA Rural Development State Director Chris Kanazawa announced yesterday that USDA is soliciting applications for fiscal year 2015 Community Connect Program grants. The program provides grants to establish essential broadband services in rural communities where it is currently not available.
“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 of the Western Pacific,” Kanazawa said. “This grant can assist rural residents tap into the enormous potential of the Internet.”
Applicants eligible to apply include state, county, city or township, Native American tribal governments, nonprofits, for profits, and small businesses. The minimum amount of grants awarded will be $100,000; the maximum is $3,000,000.
The deadline for applications to be submitted is Feb. 17, 2015.
Last year, USDA announced new rules to better target Community Connect grants to areas where they are needed the most.
Community Connect grants can be used to construct, acquire or lease facilities to deploy broadband to community facilities such as schools and public safety locations, as well as residences and businesses in the community.
“The Community Connect grant can be made available to bring the benefits of broadband, including new educational, business and public health and safety opportunities, to residents living in some of the most remote parts of the Western Pacific,” said Joe Diego, Area Director.
You can access more information on the Community Connect grant at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_commconnect.html. (USDA)
