USDA Community Connect GrantWebinar & Grants Assistance

Lauren HarrisBroadband Florida Grants AssistanceAugust 17, 2012REDI Conference Call

Broadband Grants Assistance Team

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Who we are

Broadband Assistance Grants Team

• Florida Department of Management Services’ (DMS)

• Broadband Florida Initiative

• Funded by the National Telecommunications and

Information Administration (NTIA)

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Who we are

Mission: Provide technical assistance for grant application development to Community Anchor Institutions at no cost in Florida in order to:

– Reduce the digital divide

– Increase the digital economy

– Improve Florida’s performance on

federal and other competitive grant applications

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What do we offer?

What services do we offer?– Grants research – Grant writing resources and training– Project management– Partnership development support– Grant funding opportunity announcements

• Broadband Grants Digest eNewsletter• Website

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Who we assist?

Who do we assist?Community anchor institutions (CAI) are eligible for our services. CAI are defined by the NTIA as :

• Schools• Libraries• Medical and Healthcare Providers• Public Safety• Institutions of Higher Education • Community Support Organizations• Entities that facilitate greater use of broadband services

USDA Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Grant

FY 2014

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Purpose

The Community Connect Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to furnish broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where such service does not currently exist.

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Purpose

Grant funds may be utilized to: – Deploy broadband transmission service to critical

community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses

– Construct, acquire, or expand a community center

– Equip and operate a community center that provides free access to broadband services to community residents for at least two years

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Purpose

What is Funded?– Broadband System:

• Network equipment• Outside plant• CPE, towers• Tower lease• Engineering service

– Operating Expenses• Salaries• Maintenance costs

– Community Center: • 10 computers for the

community center, etc. • Building construction• Facility improvements

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Funding

Over 3 years:

– Minimum grant request amount is: $100,000

– Maximum grant request amount is: $1,500,000

Match:

– At least 15% of the grant amount requested

– Matching contributions are for allowable costs that

could have been financed with grant funds

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Who can apply?

Entities Eligible to Apply:• Incorporated organization

• Indian Tribe or tribal organization, as defined in 25 U.S.C.

450b(b) and (c)

• State or local unit of government

• A cooperative, private corporation or limited liability company

organized on a for-profit or not-for-profit basis.

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Scoring

The application scoring is based on three (3) criteria: 1. Rurality (up to 40 points)

2. Economic Need (up to 30 points)

3. Benefits Derived (up to 30 points)

Objective

Subjective

Sample Ideal Community Profile (60/70 points)• Up to 1,000 Residents• Community MHI ≤$26,213.55 (55th percentile or lower)

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Scoring Focus

Rurality (40 Points) Smallest communities are best positioned to receive funding

Level Over Not in Excess of Points

1 0 499 402 499 1000 353 1000 2000 304 2000 3000 255 3000 4000 206 4000 5000 157 5000 10000 108 10000 20000 5

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Scoring Focus

Economic Need (30 Points) Communities with MHI in the 60th percentile or lower

are best positioned to receive funding.

(Percentile = Community MHI/ State MHI)

Median Household Income for Florida (2006-2010) is $47,661. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Applicant Community MHI must be $35,745.75 or lower to qualify.

Median Household Income is: Percent (%) of

MHI Less Than:

Percent (%) of MHI Greater Than or

Equal To:

Community MHI is ≤ Points

> 75 ≥ $35,745.75 075 70 < $35,745.75 570 65 < $33,362.70 1065 60 < $30,979.65 1560 55 < $28,596.60 2055 50 < $26,213.55 2550 < < $23,830.50 30

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Scoring Focus

Benefits Derived (30 Points)

• Discuss issues and challenges facing this community and how the applicant’s proposal will address them

• Document community’s involvement in project planning, implementation, and support by local residents, institutions, and critical community facilities

• Describe how the community center will be used for instructional purposes including Internet usage

• List Web-based community resources enabled or provided at the Community Center

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Funding

Expected Funding Dates• Funding Announcements May 2013• Deadline June 2013

Webinar• Look for invitation to the webinar

– September 19, 2012– 12:00 Noon. – To register email Lauren.Harris@dms.myflorida.com– For more information, see the Broadband Grant Team Website