Community Development Agencies, Non Profits, PHA’s urged to seek grant funds.
There is a new opportunity to apply for Broadband Technology Opportunity Program (BTOP) grant funds. Core Synergy Group, a Maryland based consulting firm is providing grant writing and technical assistance to sucessfully obtain the grant. The firm, which has successfully written millions of dollars in community development and Neighborhood Networks Community Technology Grant applications for a number of public agencies throughout the United States.
A number of community development corporations, non-profits and public housing authorities (PHAs) applied, often in partnership with their local universities, library systems and community organizations have received the funding.
It is expected that $1.4 billion in grant awards will be announced on a rolling basis through February, and that non-profits and PHAs will receive a share of the funding. This is the second and final opportunity to apply for BTOP funding.
The funding is designed to help provide broadband (high-speed Internet) to communities in need, including residents served by non-profits and Public Housing Authorities (PHAs).
Core Synergy Group‘s Principal Consultant noted, “As more services related to government, employment, health, job training, and education are delivered online, access to broadband is becoming increasingly necessary. Non Profits, PHA’s, and Community Development organizations must be prepared to quickly apply for these grants.”
More on the $2.6 billion BTOP awards program:
The 2.6 billion BTOP awards program will award in second round funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to help advance the Administration’s goal of providing broadband access to all Americans. Most importantly to us in the public housing business, BTOP expressly recognizes that HUD and PHAs are already working with the communities, infrastructure (including Neighborhood Networks centers), and populations that the Administration is targeting. Applicants are encouraged to leverage other Recovery Act funding, State or Federal funding, towards their Broadband project.
BTOP is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) at the Department of Commerce. The Program’s Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) announces three types of grants, two of which are directly applicable to non-profits, Neighborhood Network Centers, PHAs:
1. Public Computer Centers (PCC): The PCC category will help expand public access to broadband service and enhance broadband capacity at entities that permit the public to use these computing centers, such as community colleges and public libraries. The NOFA includes “Neighborhood Networks centers in public housing developments” as part of its definition of a public computer center. (See NOFA, p. 3798)
Funding Available: At least $150 million.
2. Sustainable Broadband Adoption (SBA): The SBA category will fund innovative projects that promote broadband demand, including projects focused on providing broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment, or support, particularly among vulnerable population groups that traditionally have underutilized broadband technology.
Funding Available: At least $100 million.
The third category, Comprehensive Community Infrastructure (CCI) will focus on Middle Mile broadband infrastructure projects that offer new or substantially upgraded connections to community anchor institutions or to organizations or agencies serving vulnerable populations. (see definition of CCI on p. 3797, and footnote #57 on p. 3806)
Funding Available: Approximately $2.35 billion.
More Application Information:
Deadline: All applications for funding BTOP projects must be submitted between February 16, 2010, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and March 15, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
The NOFA is available via this link: http://www.broadbandusa.gov/files/FedRegNOFA_R2_NTIA.pdf
Non-Profits and PHAs interested in these opportunities should explore application opportunities with other eligible entities for the above categories and/or the third category. Core Synergy Group is available to provide grant writing assistance. Contact Core Synergy Group’s Principal Consultant immediately at 240-696-1135