Connecting Communities, Protecting Wildlife
By: Jill Springer, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth, NTIA
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Overview
The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program is a $268 million grant program to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the purchase of broadband internet access service and eligible equipment or to hire and train information technology personnel.
NTIA’s Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program grant (CMC) is currently in the post award phase period, providing technical assistance and programmatic oversight of the awards. The funding from this Internet for All grant program was made on a rolling basis, awarding grants to 93 universities including: 43 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 31 Hispanic Serving Institutions, 21 Minority Serving Institutions, and 5 Tribal Colleges and Universities. The funding received by the colleges and universities allows these institutions of higher learning to positively impact the broadband capacity of their campuses, students and faculty, and surrounding anchor communities, assisting to close the digital divide and provide Internet for All.
Notice of Funding Opportunity
Technical Assistance
Find information, technical assistance, and documentation to help manage your award.
Award Recipients
See all of the announced award recipients, the award totals, and locations for this grant program.
Program Archive
Need assistance with our programs? Visit our program support page for information about who to contact for each funding program.
Press Releases
Keep up with all of the latest news and updates for this program. Visit the Press Release page.
Blog
Need documents from past stages of the program? Visit the program archive for past FAQs, program documentation, and assistance sessions.
From Intern to Career Advisor: Workforce Development in Southern Los Angeles
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Estephanie (Stephanie) Solano sees herself as a vessel for change.
A recent graduate of California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), Solano currently works as a career advisor at Goodwill in southern Los Angeles, where she helps connect community members with job opportunities and resources.
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By: Shirley “Mel” Reyes Moret, Federal Program Officer, Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program
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NTIA awarded Phoenix College more than $4.25 million from the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to improve high-speed Internet service capacity and workforce development training. This funding also enabled Phoenix College to purchase devices and software, create paid internships within the college’s Information Technology Department, and revise programs within their new Bachelor of IT program, among other changes and improvements.
Demonstrating compliance with the Buy America requirement
Will Arbuckle, Senior Policy Advisor, NTIA