Thanks to Amalia Deloney for passing on the following opportunity!

Funding Opportunity-RURAL Broadband Grant Program

The National Rural Assembly would like to make you aware of a funding opportunity for those organizations engaged in developing plans for transmission of broadband services to rural communities.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband Grant Program for 2009, intended to provide financial assistance to supply broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities currently without such services. The funds can be used to provide broadband transmission service to rural residents, community facilities, and businesses – and to create or support a community center that provides free access to broadband services to community residents for at least two years.

Grants are competitive and will be awarded to entities that serve communities of up to 20,000 residents. States, counties, city or township governments, special district governments, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions) are all eligible applicants. The awards will range from $50,000 to $1 million.

DEADLINE: Applications for funding are due June 19, 2009.

For more information on the grant application, CLICK HERE.