RDRUS-CC-2025: Community Connect Grant Program
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Rural Utilities Service notices from 2025.
Rural Utilities Service offered grants of up to $5.0 million (at least $100,000) to nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expected to make about 10 awards worth $26.0 million in total. Applications closed on April 21, 2025.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 13, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$5.0 million
- Award floor$100,000
- Total funding$26.0 million
- Expected awards10
- Cost sharingRequired
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RDRUS-CC-2026 | May 13, 2026 | Closed June 29, 2026 | Closed |
| RDRUS-CC-2023 | March 20, 2023 | Closed February 20, 2024 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | January 13, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | April 21, 2025 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | May 21, 2025 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 10 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Community Connect Grant Program awards averaged $2.7 million; this notice allows up to $5.0 million per award.
- The notice requires cost sharing or matching funds, so you must contribute part of the project cost.
What the grant funds
The Community Connect Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed (100 Mbps down and 20 Mbps up) to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service (10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up) does not exist. The deployment of broadband services on a “community-oriented connectivity” basis stimulates economic development and provides enhanced educational and health care opportunities in rural areas. RUS will give priority to rural areas that demonstrate the greatest need for broadband services, based on the criteria contained in the regulation and Application Guide. The regulation for the Community Connect Grant Program can be found at 7 CFR part 1739. All applicants should carefully review and prepare their applications according to instructions in the FY 2025 Community Connect Grant Program Application Guide (Application Guide) and program resources. This Application Guide can be found at https://www.rd.usda.gov/community-connect. Expenses incurred in developing applications will be at the applicant’s own risk. Applications will be submitted through the online application system available on the program web site. The application system will open for accepting Community Connect applications on February 20, 2025. Applications must submitted by no later than 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time, April 21, 2025. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Who has won Community Connect Grant Program grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Community Connect Grant Program (10.863) awarded $136 million across 50 grant awards, an average of $2.7 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Utility District 1 of Lewis County | Washington | 2 | $7.9 million |
| Wabash Telephone Cooperative Inc | Illinois | 2 | $7.6 million |
| Citizens Telephone Coop | Virginia | 2 | $6.8 million |
| Star Telephone Company, Inc. | Idaho | 2 | $5.5 million |
| Unicom, Inc. | Alaska | 1 | $5.0 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is RDRUS-CC-2025 still open?
No. It closed on April 21, 2025.
Who can apply for Community Connect Grant Program?
Rural Utilities Service accepted applications from nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
What is the deadline for Community Connect Grant Program?
Closed April 21, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $5.0 million each. About $26.0 million in total across about 10 awards.
Who has won Community Connect Grant Program grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Public Utility District 1 of Lewis County, Wabash Telephone Cooperative Inc, Citizens Telephone Coop. The program made 50 awards worth $136 million in that time.
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