USDA Rural Utilities Service Community Connect Grant

Lauren HarrisBroadband Florida Initiative Grants Assistance TeamDepartment of Management ServicesDivision of Telecommunications

October 10, 2012

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Webinar Topics

•Overview of the grant

•What are the features of a winning

proposal?

•What is involved in applying for this

grant?

•How does a community get started?

•Steps to creating a successful proposal

•What is the Broadband Grants Team?

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About the USDA RUS Community Connect Grant

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PurposeThe Community Connect Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to furnish broadband service in rural, economically-challenged communities where such service does not currently exist.

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Define Broadband

• Broadband Transmission Service - providing an information-rate equivalent to at least 200 kilobits/second in the consumer’s connection to the network, both from the provider to the consumer (downstream) and from the consumer to the provider (upstream).

• Includes any of the following (with minimum 200 kbps ↕)

▫3G & 4G (Mobile)▫Combination▫Fixed Wireless▫Cable▫Fiber ▫DSL

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PurposeGrant funds may be utilized to:

▫Deploy broadband transmission service to critical community facilities, rural residents, and rural businesses

▫Construct, acquire, or expand a community center

▫Equip and operate a community center that provides free access to broadband services to community residents for at least two years

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PurposeWhat is Funded?

▫Broadband System: Network equipment Outside plant CPE, towers Tower lease Engineering service

▫Operating Expenses: Salaries Maintenance costs

▫Community Center: • 10 computers for

the community center, etc.

• Building construction

• Facility improvements

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FundingOver 3 years:

▫Minimum grant request amount is: $100,000

▫Maximum grant request amount is: $1,500,000Match:

▫At least 15% of the grant amount requested

▫Matching contributions are for allowable costs

that can be financed with grant funds

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Who can apply?Eligible Entities Include:

• Incorporated organization

• Indian Tribe or tribal organization,

as defined in 25 U.S.C. 450b(b) and (c)

• State or local unit of government

• A cooperative, private corporation or limited

liability company organized on a for-profit or not-

for-profit basis.

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What are the features of a winning proposal?

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No Florida community has ever received this grant. Why?

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Scoring: Plan to Win• Assess whether the community meets the objective

criteria.• Develop plans specifically to meet the grant

requirements.• Secure community buy-in.

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ScoringThe application scoring is based on three (3) criteria: 1. Rurality (up to 40 points)

2. Economic Need (up to 30 points)

3. Benefits Derived (up to 30 points)

Objective

Subjective

Sample Ideal Community Profile (60/70 points)• Under 1,000 Residents• Community Median Household Income (MHI)

≤$26,213.55 (55th percentile or lower)

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Objective Criteria

Rurality (40 Points) is based on population. Smallest communities are best positioned to receive

funding

Level OverNot in Excess

ofPoints

1 0 499 402 499 1000 353 1000 2000 304 2000 3000 255 3000 4000 206 4000 5000 157 5000 10000 108 10000 20000 5

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Objective Criteria

Economic Need (30 Points) is based on avg. income. Communities with MHI in the 60th percentile or lower

are best positioned to receive funding.

(Percentile = Community MHI/ State MHI)

Median Household Income for Florida (2006-2010) is $47,661. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Applicant Community MHI must be $35,745.75 or lower to qualify.

Median Household Income is:

 

Percent (%) of

MHI Less Than:

Percent (%) of MHI Greater

Than or Equal To:

Community MHI is ≤

Points

>  75 ≥ $35,745.75 075 70 < $35,745.75 570 65 < $33,362.70 1065 60 < $30,979.65 1560 55 < $28,596.60 2055 50 < $26,213.55 2550 <  < $23,830.50 30

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Florida CommunitiesNeeds Assessment

Placename MHI by ZIPNeed Pts.

(MHI)MHI

PercentilePopulation

2010Rurality Pts.

(Pop.)Rurality

LevelTotal Obj.

Points% of Points Possible

Possible Pts (of 100)

Lake Harbor$23589.00 30 50th 45 40 1 70 100% 100

Limestone$23750.00 30 50th 132 40 1 70 100% 100

Campbellton$25817.00 25 55th 230 40 1 65 93% 95

Yankeetown$24745.00 25 55th 502 35 2 60 86% 90

Jacob City$26398.00 20 60th 250 40 1 60 86% 90

Ebro$26719.00 20 60th 270 40 1 60 86% 90

Berrydale$27400.00 20 60th 441 40 1 60 86% 90

Brownsdale$27400.00 20 60th 471 40 1 60 86% 90

Cobbtown$27400.00 20 60th 67 40 1 60 86% 90

Fidelis$27400.00 20 60th 156 40 1 60 86% 90

Mount Carmel$27400.00 20 60th 227 40 1 60 86% 90

Pine Level$27400.00 20 60th 227 40 1 60 86% 90

Lake Mystic$27933.00 20 60th 500 40 1 60 86% 90

Sumatra$27933.00 20 60th 148 40 1 60 86% 90

Esto$28451.00 20 60th 364 40 1 60 86% 90

Wausau$28571.00 20 60th 383 40 1 60 86% 90

Jennings$26316.00 20 60th 878 35 2 55 79% 85

Fort Green$29256.00 15 65th 101 40 1 55 79% 85

Istachatta$29668.00 15 65th 116 40 1 55 79% 85

Ona$30833.00 15 65th 314 40 1 55 79% 85

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Subjective Scoring:Points to Consider When Planning

Benefits Derived (30 Points) are outlined in narrative.

• Discuss issues and challenges facing this community and how the applicant’s proposal will address them

• Document community’s involvement in project planning, implementation, and support by local residents, institutions, and critical community facilities

• Describe how the community center will be used for instructional purposes including Internet usage

• List Web-based community resources enabled or provided at the Community Center

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Getting started with your community.• Starting the Planning Process• Resource Development• Grant Proposal: Develop, Review, Submit

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Plan to Plan• Leadership First

▫ Identify stakeholders▫ Identify Project Lead▫ Decide who will “push the button”

• Timeline your process• Create project management structure

▫ Communication plan▫ Internal and external resources▫ Set up and create permissions for

Dropbox, SharePoint, and other resources• Set up shop

▫ Create/ register entity, as needed▫ Apply for DUNS, SAM, CCR/ CAGE code,

etc., as needed Make sure your “button-pusher” has

requisite permissions well in advance. Registration may take up to 2 weeks for each password or login code.

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Resource Development• Resource the community

▫ Community buy-in is important▫ Identify existing resources

Human capital Real Estate Other

• Vendors▫ Can assist in match▫ May serve as applicant▫ Engineering assessments

• Government Resources▫ REDI▫ Broadband Florida Grants Team▫ DivTel with FL DMS

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Includes:•Fields•Radio buttons•Upload files

Interactive PDF

Standard Form 424

Attachments

Original Content Forms

Direct Content

Grant Proposal: Develop, Review, Submit

Standard Form 424• Download this form*• Enter information as

required by the form/ FOA:▫ Contact information▫ Brief descriptive title▫ Congressional District▫ Amount Requested▫ Budgetary information

for the applicant entity▫ Upload attachment

documents as PDF files* This form must be downloaded from the funding opportunity announcement page. If you use an old version, it might not be right.

Upload

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SF424: Download the most current version

Form content changes from year to year

Some areas may require both paste-in and uploaded content

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Grant Proposal: Develop, Review, Submit

Executive SummaryDescribing the following:• Project (as a whole)• Applicant Entity• Project Goals• Overview of telecom system to be

developed (include equipment, technologies, facilities, etc.)

• Describe procedure to determine unavailability of service*

• Community partners

*The Grants Assistance Team has done a basic needs assessment of communities in Florida. Additional research by applicant communities is needed regarding potential expansion by local vendors.

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Document Scoring:Sources of Information for Objective Criteria► DOWNLOAD THE WORKSHEET FROM THE USDA WEBSITE

• Broadband Bandwidth and Rurality (based on population)

▫FCC Data files▫Broadband Florida Initiative Mapping Project▫Applicants must further confirm regional

vendors have no intent to expand into the applicant community.

• Economic Need (based on Median Household Income)

▫US Census Fact Finder ▫ S1903: MEDIAN INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2010

INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS), 2010 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates (http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml)

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System Design• Narrative describing

community center• Engineering design

studies▫ Technical specs▫ Data rates ▫ Cost

• Map of Service Area▫ Community Center▫ Critical Community

Facilities

Grant Proposal: Develop, Review, Submit

Scope of Work• Specific Activities• Project Timeline• Budget and supporting

documents

Community-Oriented Connectivity Plan• List critical facilities (libraries,

schools, clinics, fire stations, etc.)

• How will services be deployed?• List equipment• Role of telecom carrier in

deployment

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Financial Information & Sustainability:• Narrative demonstrating

sustainability in resources, funding plan, and expertise

• Certified financial documents

• 5 years of Pro Forma financial info for applicant and project, including income collected (past and projected budget)

Grant Proposal: Develop, Review, Submit

Statement of Experience• Narrative format• Describe capacity to operate

the proposed telecom system• Must include owner and

principal employees relevant work experience

Evidence of Legal Authority and Existence• May include articles of

incorporation, bylaws, excerpts from state statutes, etc. (see FOA for full list)

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Funding Commitments from Other Sources• Letters of Support• Proof of commitment to

make minimum 15% match

• If in-kind commitment, describe material contribution with detailed values

Grant Proposal: Develop, Review, Submit

Compliance with Other Federal Statutes and Regulations(upload as attachment PDFs)• Equal Opportunity Employment• Certificate Regarding Architectural

Barriers• Certificate Regarding Flood Hazard

Area Precautions• Assistance and Real Property

Acquisition Policies Act• Drug-free Workplace• Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment/

Disclosure of• Non-Duplication of Service Cert.• Fed. Obligations on Delinquent Debt• Environmental Questionnaire• E.O.s 12549/ 12689 Debarment and

Suspension

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Review & Submit!• Copy edit• Checklist content• Review, as needed/ required• Load content into SF424 (PDF) and SUBMIT.

(Have your grants.gov, DUNS and other login info handy!)

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Important Dates

Projected Dates for FY 2014:

• Funding Announcement Released: May 2013

• Submission Deadline: June 2013

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Broadband Florida InitiativeGrants Assistance Team• Who are we?• How can we help you?

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Who we are

Broadband Assistance Grants Team

•Florida Department of Management

Services’ (DMS)

•Broadband Florida Initiative

•Funded by the National

Telecommunications and Information

Administration (NTIA)

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MissionProvide technical assistance for grant application development to Community Anchor Institutions at no cost in Florida in order to:

▫Reduce the digital divide

▫Increase the digital economy

▫Improve Florida’s performance on

federal and other competitive grant

applications

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Funds Left On The Table: Florida vs. New York on E-Rate Funding

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010$0

$50,000,000

$100,000,000

$150,000,000

$200,000,000

$250,000,000

$300,000,000

$350,000,000

$400,000,000

$450,000,000

$500,000,000

Total Funds ReceivedSince 1998

$955,246,134 Million

$3,935,328,996 Billion

NY Averages 4.5X Funding of Florida Year Over Year since 1998

Florida

New York

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What can we do?Our services include:

▫Grants research ▫Grant writing resources and training▫Project management▫Partnership development support▫Grant funding opportunity announcements

Broadband Grants Digest eNewsletter Website

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Who do we assist?Community anchor institutions (CAI) are eligible for our services and are defined by the NTIA as :

▫Schools▫Libraries▫Medical and Healthcare Providers▫Public Safety▫Institutions of Higher Education ▫Community Support Organizations▫Entities that facilitate greater use of

broadband services

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Thank you for joining us.For more information about FREE grants assistance, please contact:

Melanie Simmons PhD – Team Lead Melanie.Simmons@dms.myflorida.com (850) 921-1652

Lauren Harris – Grant Writer Lauren.Harris@dms.myflorida.com(850) 922-7503

Kristin Williams – Grant Writer Kristin.Williams@dms.myflorida.com (850) 487-9252

Or learn more on the Broadband Grants Assistance Team website.