The North Carolina Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for the BizConnect Broadband Pilot Grant Program. This program provides reimbursements to North Carolina cities, towns or villages to fund deployment of broadband connectivity to a business location that is unserved, or underserved, by necessary broadband connectivity. The purpose of this program is to enable the business to create jobs. Reimbursements in the amount of up to $10,000 per job created will be offered. The program is administered by the Rural Economic Development Division of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The deadline for applications is April 30th.
“These funds will help North Carolina’s municipalities achieve broadband connectivity in a timely manner,” said Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III. “This will be vital in helping build the economy and adding jobs in these areas.”
The BizConnect Broadband Pilot Grant Program is a new program under the Rural Grants/Programs Section of the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The funding is provided by the NC General Assembly to encourage private sector broadband providers to extend connectivity to unserved areas that are otherwise not economically feasible for deployment. Commerce currently has a total of $350,000 to award.
Eligible applicants are municipalities located in either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 county or a rural census tract in a Tier 3 county. In Tier 1 or Tier 2 counties, priority will be given to municipalities with populations of fewer than 50,000 persons. Under North Carolina Statute, a rural census tract has a population density of fewer than 500 persons per square mile according to the most recent federal census.
A municipality must use the funds as a reimbursement for expenses from the deployment, installation or improvement of the necessary infrastructure for privately owned telecommunications service in or to an already existing building on real property.
The North Carolina Rural Economic Division administers these grants. The BizConnect Broadband Grant program application and guidelines are posted on the N.C. Commerce website at www.nccommerce.com/rd. Completed applications must be submitted electronically by Friday, April 30, 2015 to amanda.tetzlaff@nccommerce.com. Awards will be announced Friday, May 15, 2015.