What is the Municipal Fiber Grant program?
The Municipal Fiber Grant program is a competitive grant program that will support the closing of critical gaps that exist in municipal networks. The provision of fiber in communities allows for centralized management of IT infrastructure, including an enterprise approach to network monitoring, cybersecurity, records management, and backup and disaster recovery. A cohesive municipal network also creates opportunities to gain economies of scale by aggregating internet bandwidth purchases and the associated security infrastructure. See below for eligibility specifics.
The application period for the FY24 Municipal Fiber Grant program will open on March 11, 2024 and closes on April 12, 2024 at noon. All municipalities are eligible except those that received grants in FY23.
What is the deadline to apply for the Municipal Fiber Grant Program?
The application period runs from March 11, 2024 through noon on April 12, 2024. Projects awarded grants must be completed within 18 months of the grant being awarded.
What kind of projects are eligible?
Grants will support the implementation of fiber optic networks that connect remote municipal assets for the purpose of improving municipal operations and/or improving disaster recovery and resiliency within municipal government. Eligible costs include one-time capital needs, such as fiber optic cabling, hardware, software and implementation services necessary to support the initial implementation.
What kind of costs are NOT eligible?
Internal building networking to support end-devices is not eligible. Ongoing maintenance, operations and support are not eligible. Feasibility studies are not eligible. Software-as-a-Service and cloud subscriptions costs are not eligible.
What size grants will be awarded?
This is a competitive grant program. Grant requests of any size up to $250,000 will be considered. However, if the application is for a multi-jurisdictional project (see below), grants of up to a maximum of $500,000 may be awarded. A local match of 5% is required. In-kind services can serve as the match.
Applications will be evaluated based in large part on the impact of the proposed project on the community. For example, a small community’s low-dollar funding request may support a project that would have a big impact on that community.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for the amount needed for their program and at a level of support that can be successfully implemented by the project completion deadline.
Can communities have a joint application to the Community Compact Municipal Fiber Grant Program?
Yes. The participating communities should complete a joint application. The application should be submitted by the community that will be the project lead.
How do I access the application?
The application will open on March 11, 2024.
In order to fill out the application, you will need the link that was included in FY24 Community Compact Cabinet kickoff letter from Lt. Governor Driscoll emailed to your community’s Chief Municipal Executive (Mayor or City Manager in a City, Selectboard Chair or Town Manager/Administrator in a Town) in August 2023.