11 May 2021

American Rescue Plan Act – Section 603

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The American Rescue Plan Act § 602 provides a total of $350 billion to eligible states, territories, and tribal governments. Funds are available until 2024 and are to be used for “necessary investments” in “water, sewer, broadband infrastructure.”

Of that $350 billion, the total allocated to Missouri is $5.475 billion (combining the allocations at the state level and allocations to cities, counties, and non-county jurisdictions). For guidance, refer to the issue-specific toolkits developed by Missouri state agencies for local governments to use in considering investments for their communities with American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”) local fiscal recovery funding.

See the most recent FAQs provided by U.S. Treasury for more information.

The American Rescue Plan Act § 603 provides a total of $130.2 billion directly for broadband infrastructure for eligible municipalities and counties. Funds are available until December 2024. Funds must be used to make “necessary investments” in “water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.”

11 May 2021

Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

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The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, which will direct $268 million for expanding broadband access and connectivity to eligible Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and consortia led by an HBCU, TCU, or MSI that also include a minority business enterprise or tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

For more information, please see https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/ for updates. Applications closed December 1, 2021. See the first round of awardees here.

11 May 2021

Community Connect Grants

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Community Connect Grants offers funding to eligible applicants that will construct broadband networks that provide service on a community-oriented connectivity basis in rural areas. Specifically, funds will be used for the construction, acquisition, or leasing of facilities, spectrum, land or buildings used to deploy broadband service for residential and business, and essential community facilities (such as public schools, fire stations, public libraries, and public safety stations). Up to 10 percent of the grant may be used for the improvement, expansion, construction, or acquisition of a community center that provides online access to the public.

More information is available here. Applications closed December 23, 2020.

11 May 2021

The Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program

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NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. In the priority order defined by the Act, NTIA will accept applications for projects that are designed to:

  1. Provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area;
  2. Provide broadband service in an eligible service area that is wholly within any area other than a county, city, or town with more than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town of more than 50,000 inhabitants;
  3. Be the most cost-effective, prioritizing such projects in areas that are the most rural;
  4. Provide broadband service with a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 20 Mbps;
  5. Meet the requirements of this NOFO.

More information about the program, including requirements for grant applications, can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications closed on August 17, 2021. Due to the high number of applications, NTIA established these guidelines for review.

4 May 2021

Tax Credit for Contribution Program

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The Missouri Development Finance Board is authorized by Section 100.286.6 of the Missouri Statutes (the “Tax Credit Statute”) to grant a tax credit equal to 50% on the value of any eligible contribution to the Board by any taxpayer through the Tax Credit for Contribution Program. To be eligible for the credit, the contribution must be made to one of three funds established by the Board’s statutes: the Industrial Development and Reserve Fund, the Infrastructure Development Fund, or the Export Finance Fund.

4 May 2021

Public Entity Loan Program

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The Missouri Development Finance Board Public Entity Loan Program provides loans to local governments to finance general public infrastructure improvements and economic development projects. Loans are individually structured tax-exempt revenue bonds tailored to meet the needs of each public entity. The loans may be secured (sale/leaseback) or unsecured depending upon the credit strength of the public entity and the nature of the public improvements and are subject to annual appropriation.

4 May 2021

Missouri Building Entrepreneurial Capacity (MOBEC)

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To create more home-grown, high-tech companies, Missouri must support entrepreneurs and foster innovation.  It is for this reason that the Missouri Building Entrepreneurial Capacity program (MOBEC) is a cornerstone of MTC’s investment strategy. Through the MOBEC grant program, MTC makes strategic investments that expand the support system for entrepreneurs that are commercializing new technologies or that enhance the capacity of Missouri to grow its innovation economy.

Applications closed November 16, 2021.

4 May 2021

Missouri Infrastructure Development Opportunities Commission Program (MIDOC)

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The purpose of the Missouri Infrastructure Development Opportunities Commission Program is to help rural communities and rural districts that have a financial hardship with their infrastructure project and are unable to obtain financing elsewhere, with priority given to water and sewer projects addressing public health and safety issues. Projects must address reparation of public infrastructure to be eligible.  

Loan dollar amounts are between $25,000 and $150,000.

4 May 2021

Community Development Block Grant – Industrial Infrastructure

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This program helps communities develop public infrastructure that allows industries to locate new facilities, expand existing facilities, prevent the closing of a facility or the relocation of a facility outside the state. Grant funds may be used for public streets, water or sewer lines, engineering and other public facilities necessary to support the private sector project. A public entity must own the facilities to be funded.

4 May 2021

Rural Health Care Program

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The Rural Health Care Program funds two types of services. The Telecommunications Program funds voice, data, and other telecommunication services. The Healthcare Connect Fund Program funds broadband services, network equipment, etc.

To get started: Visit the following link to determine which program you are eligible for.