COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM

This fact sheet describes the USDA Rural Development’s Community Connect Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to eligible organizations to deploy broadband internet service in rural, economically challenged communities lacking such service.

• The Community Connect Grant Program is linked to climate goals by enabling the use of energy-efficiency technologies, such as smart home energy devices and precision agriculture, which help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The document asserts that expanding broadband is 'essential to a successful transition to a clean energy economy.'
• The 2018 Farm Bill (P.L.115-334) codified the program and authorized annual discretionary appropriations of $50 million through fiscal year (FY) 2023. For FY 2023, Congress appropriated $35 million.
• Eligible entities for the program include incorporated organizations, States, units of local government, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations, and other legal entities such as cooperatives, private corporations, or limited liability companies (whether for-profit or not-for-profit). Individuals and partnerships are explicitly excluded.
• Grant recipients must use funds to provide eligible broadband service to all essential community facilities and necessary facilities for residential and business customers within the proposed service area. Additionally, for at least two years, they must provide free broadband service and at least two computer access points to a community center, and cover bandwidth costs for requesting essential community facilities.
• Grant funds can be used for the acquisition, leasing, or construction of land, buildings, and facilities (including spectrum), as well as the improvement or acquisition of a community center. However, funds cannot be used for operating expenses (with specific exceptions for spectrum and free service to essential community facilities) or to duplicate existing eligible broadband services. For community centers, spending is capped at the lesser of 10 percent of the grant or $150,000.
• Recipients are required to provide a cash contribution of at least 15 percent of the grant amount. This contribution must be used exclusively for the project and cannot include Federal funds unless a specific statute allows them to be treated as non-Federal sources.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2023). COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Community-Connect-Grant-Program.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM. 2023. https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Community-Connect-Grant-Program.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM |date=24 February 2023 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Community-Connect-Grant-Program.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2023community, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANT PROGRAM}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/Farm-Bill-2023-Side-by-Side-Community-Connect-Grant-Program.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }