Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (11.036)
Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (Assistance Listing 11.036) is run by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the Department of Commerce. It awarded $52.9 million in 4 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $13.2 million per award on average. 1 funding opportunity is open or forecast now.
The typical award was $9.6 million. Half of the 4 awards fell between $8.3 million and $14.5 million, and they ranged from $7.9 million to $25.8 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$52.9 million
- Grant awards4
- Typical award$9.6 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$52.9 million
- Size rank1,018 of 1,823
- Type of assistanceGrant
Key findings
- It is the 1018th largest of 1,823 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- Awards went to recipients in 4 states and territories.
What the program funds
The Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program was established by Section 60305 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, Public Law 117-58. In May 2025, the Administration announced the termination of the awards made under this assistant listing number due to lack of alignment with the Administration's priorities.
Open opportunities
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
The following entities are eligible to apply for grants under this Program if the entity is not serving, and has not served, as the administering entity for a State under 47 U.S.C. §1723(b): (1) A political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality of a State, including an agency of a State that is responsible for administering or supervising adult education and literacy activities, or for providing public housing, in the State. (2) An Indian Tribe, an Alaska Native entity, or a Native Hawaiian organization. (3) A foundation, corporation, institution, or association that is – a. A not-for-profit entity; and b. Not a school. (4) A community anchor institution. (5) A local educational agency. (6) An entity that carries out a workforce development program. (7) A partnership between any of the entities described in paragraphs (1) through (6). U.S. Territories may apply for the territorial set aside provided for at 47 U.S.C. §1724(j)(3) by submitting an application consistent with the NOFO.
What the money can and cannot pay for
An Eligible Entity or U.S. Territory to which a Competitive Grant is awarded must use the grant funds to support not less than 1 of the following activities: (a) To develop and implement digital inclusion activities that benefit one or more of the Covered Populations. (b) To facilitate the adoption of broadband by Covered Populations to provide educational and employment opportunities to those populations. (c) To implement training programs for Covered Populations that cover basic, advanced, and applied skills or other workforce development programs, including, for example, digital inclusion projects that address online safety, and work to prevent online harassment and abuse. (d) To make available equipment, instrumentation, networking capability hardware and software, or digital network technology for broadband services to Covered Populations at low or no cost. (e) To construct, upgrade, expend, or operate new or existing public access computing centers for Covered Populations through community anchor institutions. (f) To undertake any other project or activity that the Assistant Secretary finds to be consistent with the purposes for which the Program is established. Limitations on Uses of Digital Equity Competitive Grant Funds: a. 10 Percent Cap on Evaluation: A recipient shall use no more than 10 percent of the grant amount to measure and evaluate the activities supported with the grant amounts. b.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Deadlines
Please refer to the Notice of Funding Opportunity
Award range and average, in the agency's words
Congress has appropriated $750,000,000, less NTIA’s cost of administering the program, for grants under the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program through fiscal year 2024 ($250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024). As statutorily required, five (5) percent ($37,500,000) will be reserved for Native Entities and one (1) percent ($7,500,000) will be reserved for U.S. Territories. Congress has also appropriated an additional $250,000,000, less administrative expenses, for fiscal year 2025 which is anticipated to become available in October of 2024. If these funds become available, NTIA intends to award these additional funds, including a five (5) percent set-aside for Native Entities and a one (1) percent set-aside for U.S. Territories. Any funds not awarded, including further appropriations, will be made available through future NOFOs. Grant awards will be made on a competitive basis and will depend upon the number of applicants and the size of the proposals submitted. NTIA expects to make individual Competitive Grant Program awards to Eligible Entities within a range of $5,000,000 and $10,000,000.
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program (11.036) awarded $52.9 million across 4 grant awards, an average of $13.2 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Digital Inclusion Alliance | Ohio | 1 | $25.8 million |
| Clark County, NV | Nevada | 1 | $10.7 million |
| International Rescue Committee, Inc. | New York | 1 | $8.4 million |
| Bristol Bay Native Association, Inc. | Alaska | 1 | $7.9 million |
Who usually wins
Nonprofits received 80% of the money, state and local governments 20%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonprofits | 3 | $42.2 million | 80% |
| State and local governments | 1 | $10.7 million | 20% |
By state
Each state below has its own page for this program, with its recipients and yearly totals.