The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Community Connect Grant Program for fiscal year 2025. The USDA’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) estimates that approximately $26 million in grants will be available to eligible applicants this year.
The Community Connect Grant Program offers financial support to qualified applicants that will deliver broadband services at or above the grant’s specified speed to all premises in rural, economically challenged communities that lack internet access.
Establishing broadband services with a focus on “community-oriented connectivity” fosters economic growth and expands access to improved education and healthcare opportunities in these regions, the agency stated in its NOFO announcement and grant guidelines.
Entities that are deemed eligible for grants are: an incorporated organization; an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as defined in 25 U.S.C. 5304); a state government; a local unit of government; and any other legal entity, including a cooperative, private corporation, or limited liability company organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.
In addition, the program requires matching contributions (as specified in 7 CFR 1739.14).
The RUS NOFO estimates available grant funds in 2025 to be approximately $26 million; however, the agency also said it could, at its discretion, increase the total level of funding available in this round from any available source. In that case, the awards would need to meet the requirements of the statute that made the funding available to the agency.
The program’s minimum award is $100,000 and maximum award is $5 million. Awards are expected to be announced in September 2025.
The NOFO says the application window for this round of the Community Connect Grant Program opened on February 20, 2025 and will close on April 21, 2025. Completed applications for grants must be submitted electronically by April 21, no later than 11:59 a.m. Eastern time (ET).
The USDA funds many broadband projects through various programs. Another is the USDA ReConnect Program, which last December announced more than $313 million in broadband funding to providers in 18 states. The funding was intended to connect rural residents, farmers, and business owners in these states to reliable high-speed internet.
