Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program

 

The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program provides grants to eligible recipients in anchor communities for the purchase of broadband internet access service or any eligible equipment, or to hire and train information technology personnel to 1) facilitate educational instruction and learning of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, Minority Serving Institutions and related consortiums; 2) operate minority business enterprise managed by a related consortium; or 3) operate an eligible organization managed by a related consortium.

Active 11.028 National Telecommunications and Information Administration, Department of Commerce B - Project Grants Not applicable. Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, Pub. L. 116-260, Part Division N, Title IX, Section 902, Statute 134,1182 (1) a historically Black college or university; (2) a Tribal College or University; (3) a Minority-serving institution; or (4) a consortium that is led by a historically Black college or university, a Tribal College or University, or a Minority-serving institution and that also includes a minority business enterprise or an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under 10 section 501(a) of such Code. Additionally, an eligible recipient must be in an anchor community that has an estimated median annual household income of not more than two hundred and fifty percent (250%) of the poverty line and has demonstrated the greatest unmet financial need. A consortium partnership is eligible for a grant under the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program if it is led by an eligible recipient educational institution as defined above. Anchor Communities defined as any area that (1) is not more than 15 miles from a historically Black college or university, a Tribal College or University, or a Minority serving institution; and (2) has an estimated Median annual household income of not more than 250 percent of the poverty line, as that term is defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 6 9902(2)). NTIA may establish a different maximum distance for Tribal Colleges or Universities located on land held in trust by the United States in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is not applicable. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This information will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. This information will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines From 90 to 120 days. Not applicable. Not applicable. This information will be included in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Eligible recipients may use grant funds to: (1) purchase broadband internet access service, including the installation or upgrade of broadband facilities on a one-time, capital improvement, basis to increase or expand broadband capacity and/or connectivity at the eligible institution; (2) purchase or lease of eligible equipment and devices for student or patron use, subject to any restrictions and prohibited uses; and/or (3) hire and train information technology personnel who are a part of the eligible organization. Performance Reports: Each award recipient will be required to submit a technical progress report on a semi-annual basis for the periods ending March 31 and September 30 of each year. Technical progress reports shall contain information as prescribed in 2 C.F.R. § 200.329 and Department of Commerce Financial Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions dated November 12, 2020 Section A.01. In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F, adopted by the Department of Commerce through 2 CFR ? 1327.101 requires any non-federal entity (e.g., non-profit institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations) that expends federal awards of $750,000 or more in the recipient's fiscal year to conduct a single or program-specific audit in accordance with the requirements set out in the Subpart. Applicants are reminded that NTIA, the Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, or another authorized federal agency may conduct an audit of an award at any time. Not applicable. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. Period of performance is estimated to be up to two years. The NTIA Administrator may extend the two-year award period for an eligible recipient that proposes to use the grant funds for the program purpose if the eligible recipient certifies that: (i) the eligible recipient has a plan for use of the grant funds; (ii) the execution or implementation of the project is underway; or (iii) extenuating circumstances require an extension of time to allow the project to be completed. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Lump. None/Not specified. Douglas Kinkoph
U.S. Department of Commerce
NTIA, BroadbandUSA
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 4887
Washington, DC 20230 US
BroadbandUSA@ntia.gov
Phone: 2024822048 http://www.ntia.gov 16-0561-0-1-452 (Project Grants) FY 22$21,001,067.00; FY 23 est $241,851,061.00; FY 24 est $0.00; FY 21$268,000,000.00; FY 20$0.00; - Please see Notice of Federal Funding Opportunity when published on grants.gov. Not applicable. Not applicable.