Grants / Department of Agriculture / Rural Utilities Service

RDRUS-CC-2026: Community Connect Grant Program

Closed Closed June 29, 2026 Opportunity RDRUS-CC-2026 ☆ Save

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 2026.

• Award ceiling$5.0 million
• Award floor$100,000
• Total funding$17.0 million
• Expected awards5
• Cost sharingRequired
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.

More grants for nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses, 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 2026 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 May 13, 2026. Applications must submitted by no later than 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time, June 29, 2026. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Category: Business and Commerce, Community Development, Regional Development.

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.