Current Initiatives in Action:
Current Initiatives
in Action:
The Opportunity
Rural communities and Tribal Nations across the U.S., including in Oregon, are experiencing unprecedented opportunities for federal funding. Record levels of investment in broadband buildout are being made through NTIA and USDA Rural Development. This includes nearly $1 Billion of investment in Oregon alone. However, rural communities – and the independent ISP’s serving rural communities – face bigger challenges in accessing these funds.
Rural Broadband Technical Assistance Program
In response, Rural Prosperity Partners is working with USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service to launch Oregon’s first Rural Broadband Technical Assistance Program. The program is launching with a generous contribution $500,000 from USDA Rural Development, and $85,000 from the Roundhouse Foundation.
The goal of this program is to provide communities and ISPs throughout rural Oregon, and Tribal Nations with the resources they need to capitalize on historic broadband investments; build long-term capacity and expertise in rural and Tribal communities; and create a pipeline of grant-ready projects to compete for future funding opportunities.
How it Works
Rural prosperity Partners will recruit eligible entities beginning November 2023. if you are one of the two types of eligible entities listed below, we welcome your expression of interest (see below for more information).
The goal for Group 1 is to provide the support needed to resubmit Reconnect applications during the next funding period, which is projected to open up during or after November 2023. The Rural Prosperity Team will work the participants and USDA Rural Development to identify their previous application challenges and create a technical assistance plan responsive to those needs. This may include, but is not limited to project development assistance, partnership development, engineering and grant-writing. Rural Prosperity Partners will deliver technical assistance to Group 1 participants through one-on-one mentoring.
The goals for Group 2 are threefold: increase participants’ technical knowledge and expertise on broadband issues; provide a feasibility study with financial analysis and high-level engineering for each participant; and provide detailed strategy on how best to position their communities for state and federal broadband funding opportunities. Rural Prosperity Partners will provide technical assistance to Group 2 in a learning cohort model paired with one-on-one mentoring. The learning cohort will launch during the second quarter of 2024.
This program will help address the fundamental challenges faced by rural communities and help ensure they have the best chance of receiving equitable allocation of state and federal broadband funding.
Group 1
Internet Service Providers, utility districts and Tribal entities serving rural communities with broadband who have previously applied to USDA RDs’ Reconnect Program and been rejected.
Group 2
Rural jurisdictions (cities, counties), and Tribal Nations looking to better understand their broadband gaps, needs, and position themselves for funding opportunities.
