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.

4 May 2021

Impact KC

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Impact KC is a group of philanthropic and civic-minded individuals dedicated to making a substantive impact on the well-being of the Kansas City metropolitan area through volunteerism, fundraising and education. Impact KC receives funding from their general membership, and the fund is administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. They award one-time grants to one to four organizations through an annual application process.

Applications closed July 30, 2021.

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

Grants to States Program

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Using a population-based formula, more than $150 million is distributed among the State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) every year by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. SLAAs are official agencies charged by law with the extension and development of library services, and they are located in:

  • Each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia;
  • The Territories (Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands); and
  • The Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands).

SLAAs may use the funds to support statewide initiatives and services, and they may also distribute the funds through competitive subawards to, or cooperative agreements with, public, academic, research, school, or special libraries or consortia (for-profit and federal libraries are not eligible).

The Grants to States program allocates a base amount to each of the SLAAs plus a supplemental amount based on population. You can see recent allotments for all the states here as well as allotment tables that include the total program budget, matching funds, and data references.

3 May 2021

Community Planning and Development – Community Development Block Grant

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HUD continues its efforts to narrow the digital divide in low-income communities served by HUD by providing, where feasible and with HUD funding, broadband infrastructure to communities in need of such infrastructure. Broadband is the common term used to refer to a very fast connection to the Internet. Such connections are also referred to as high-speed.

Although HUD plans to issue regulations that will formalize its steps for narrowing the digital divide, current CDBG funds can be used for broadband installation infrastructure and service delivery.