The Shadow
RICHMOND, Va. (VR) – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development is now accepting applications for $25 million in funding offered through the Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program to help local organizations, cooperatives and Tribes expand affordable, high-speed internet projects in rural communities.
These investments are made possible through the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which reflects the goals of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out, and to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure. Today’s announcement marks the second round of funding for the program, which received 96 applications requesting a total of $44.5 million in its first round.
“Connectivity opens the world’s marketplace to rural business owners and makes it easier for rural people to share innovative ideas with the rest of the country,” Virginia State Director Perry Hickman said. “Through this program, USDA is helping rural communities identify and pursue opportunities to meet the Administration’s goal to connect every community in America with affordable, reliable high-speed internet.”
The BTA program covers technical assistance and training as well as feasibility studies, network designs, hiring efforts, and application development assistance. Applicants must apply through one of two funding categories:
- Technical Assistance Providers. Up to $15 million is available for those who propose to deliver broadband technical assistance that will benefit rural communities. The minimum award is $100,000 and the maximum is $1 million.
- Technical Assistance Recipients. Up to $10 million is available for those who will receive this assistance. The minimum award is $50,000 and the maximum is $500,000.
Applications will be evaluated according to USDA’s new scoring criteria, which includes points for projects seeking to serve distressed communities and advance racial justice, place-based equity and opportunity. USDA also encourages applicants to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities:
- Assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure;
- Ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to USDA Rural Development (RD) programs and benefits from RD funded projects; and
- Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities.
Applications must be submitted electronically using Grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 20, 2024. Additional information is available on page 52012 of the June 21, 2024, Federal Register. Please contact Virginia’s General Field Representative Richard Jenkins at richard.jenkins@usda.gov or 304-445-5369 to learn more about this funding opportunity.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
