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The following is a list of federal programs that provide grants, loans, and technical assistance for economic development projects related to broadband and infrastructure. See additional lists of other federal programs here.

Programs and their requirements are subject to change, so please check department websites for current information. The Just Transition Fund last updated this list on February 23, 2023.

Community Connect

Department of Agriculture

Community Connect provides grants for broadband projects in rural areas lacking high-speed internet access. Funds may be used for the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land, or buildings used to deploy broadband service, and to provide free broadband service to the critical community facilities for two years. Eligible applicants include incorporated organizations, Federally-recognized Tribes, state and local units of government, and any other legally-established for-profit or nonprofit entity, including cooperatives, private corporations, and limited liability companies. Non-federal matching funds are required.

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program

Department of Agriculture

The Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas with no more than 20,000 residents. Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses. Eligible borrowers include public bodies, community-based nonprofit organizations, and federally-recognized tribes.

Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program

Department of Agriculture

The Community Facilities Guaranteed Loan Program provides loan guarantees to eligible lenders to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Funds can be used to construct, enlarge, extend or otherwise improve essential community facilities, or for refinancing the debt of an essential community facility. Eligible applicants include lenders who have the legal authority, financial strength, and sufficient experience to operate a successful lending program.

ReConnect

Department of Agriculture

ReConnect offers loans, grants, and loan-grant combinations to fund construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in areas of rural America that currently do not have sufficient access to broadband. Eligible entities include corporations, LLCs, limited liability partnerships, cooperatives or mutual organizations, states or local governments, a territory or possession of the United States, and Indian tribes. Grant matching fund requirements depend on the community served.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees

Department of Agriculture

The Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans & Loan Guarantees program finances the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. Eligible applicants include entities that provide telecommunications in qualified rural areas, including state and local government entities, Federally Recognized Tribes, nonprofits (including cooperatives and limited dividend or mutual associations), and for-profit businesses. Qualified areas are rural areas and towns with a population at or below 5,000 people, areas without telecommunications facilities, or areas where the applicant is the recognized telecommunications provider.

Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant Program

Department of Energy

The Grid Resilience Grants program is a formula grant program designed to strengthen and modernize America’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other natural disasters that are exacerbated by the climate crisis. Eligible applicants include states, territories, and tribes which meet the formula requirements based on population size, land area, probability and severity of disruptive events, and a locality’s historical expenditures on mitigation efforts.

National Tribal Broadband Grant Program

Department of the Interior

The National Tribal Broadband Grant Program provides funding for feasibility studies to expand or deploy broadband in tribal communities. Funds may be used for service and engineering assessments, cost estimations, and other costs related to determining broadband feasibility. Eligible applicants include federally-recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes.

Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program

Federal Communications Commission

The Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program provides funding to applicants who can promote, increase awareness of, and increase participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program. The Affordable Connectivity Program provides qualifying low-income households discounts on broadband service and connected devices.

Healthcare Connect Fund

Federal Communications Commission

The Healthcare Connect Fund provides subsidies for high-capacity broadband connectivity to health care providers (HCPs) and encourages the formation of state and regional broadband HCP networks linking health care providers. Funds may be used for telecommunications and broadband services, as well as network equipment and (for consortia applicants) the cost of network facilities. Eligible applicants include public and nonprofit HCPs, including consortia of HCPs made up of majority-rural HCP sites.

Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant Program

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Grant Program supports projects that expand broadband access on tribal lands. Funds may be used for a range of projects related to broadband deployment, telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. Eligible applicants include tribal governments, tribal colleges, tribal organizations, and other entities.

Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce And Economic Revitalization

Appalachian Regional Commission

Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) funding is distributed through the Appalachian Regional Commission for economic and workforce development projects in communities impacted by changes in the coal economy. Funds may be used for a range of projects including broadband projects that promote regional economic growth and diversification, new job creation, and re-employment opportunities for coal-economy workers. Eligible applicants include community-based organizations, public and private nonprofits, educational institutions, local development districts, and local and state governments.

Economic Adjustment Assistance

Economic Development Administration

The Economic Adjustment Assistance program provides cooperative agreements and strategy and implementation grants to support a wide range of technical, planning, and public works and infrastructure assistance in regions experiencing adverse economic changes that may occur suddenly or over time. Funds are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities, including those negatively impacted by changes to the coal economy and nuclear power plant closures. Eligible applicants include Federally-recognized tribal governments; nonprofits; county, state, and special district governments; private institutions of higher education; public and State controlled institutions of higher education; and city or township governments.

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