MEMBER ADVISORY

November 8, 2021

Upcoming deadlines for the NTIA Pilot Program and ED programs

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is providing the following information about upcoming deadlines from the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Education.

NTIA $268 Million Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program applications due on December 1

The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) notice of funding opportunity for Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program deadline is December 1, 2021 to complete applications for funding. Eligible entities including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

The notice of funding opportunity can be found here.

Applicants may request funding for projects that have at least one of the following purposes:

  1. Builds the broadband and IT capacity of eligible HBCU, TCU, and MSI institutions;
  2. Provides broadband education, awareness, training, access, equipment, and support to students and patrons at eligible institutions, Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations in anchor communities;
  3. Provides subsidized broadband access and equipment to qualified low-income/in-need students and communities;
  4. Improves use of broadband services by eligible MBEs and community-based organizations to deliver digital skills, digital inclusion, workforce development programs, and technology services in anchor communities;
  5. Stimulates the adoption and community use of broadband services for telehealth, remote learning, telework and entrepreneurship, economic growth, and job creation in anchor communities;
  6. Builds digital skills and IT workforce capacity in HBCU, TCU, and MSI institutions, anchor communities, and MBE and tax-exempt consortia members, including STEM/STEAM, coding, cybersecurity, technician, and work-based learning programs;
  7. Assesses the needs of HBCU, TCU, and MSI anchor institutions and surrounding anchor communities and conducts planning related to online education, digital inclusion, workforce, and digital skills development; and/or
  8. Gathers data and conducts evaluation of the digital inclusion, broadband access and adoption, and professional development programs funded by the grant to determine their effectiveness and document best practices.

Since this is a pilot program, NTIA welcomes innovative approaches to technology training, workforce development, and community engagement around broadband, broadband access, and connectivity.

Complete applications must be received by www.grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on December 1, 2021

For any programmatic inquiries, please contact:

Scott Woods
Senior Broadband Program Specialist
Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
U.S. Department of Commerce
Phone: (202) 482-1713
Email: swoods@ntia.gov

U.S. Department of Education upcoming program deadlines

The U.S. Department of Education notice of funding opportunity for grants for Basic Needs Grants, Rural Postsecondary Economic Development Programs, Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education and Modeling and Simulation programs deadlines are on Nov. 29, 2021, and Dec. 6, 2021.

ALN #

Application Deadline

Competition Name

Program Description

Eligible Applicants

Funding Level

84.116N

Dec. 6, 2021

Basic Needs Grants

The Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to support programs that address the basic needs of students and to report on practices that improve outcomes for students.

 

Community Colleges that are Minority-Serving Institutions, HBCUs, or Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities

$5,000,000

84.116W

Dec. 6, 2021

Rural Postsecondary Economic Development Program

The purpose of this program is to improve rates of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion among rural students through development of high-quality career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in the region.

 

Public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education (IHEs), with enrollment of at least 30 percent of students who attended high schools located in rural areas

$10,000,000

84.116Y

Nov. 29, 2021

Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education

The purpose of this program is to provide gang-involved youth with postsecondary education opportunities that will lead to certification or credentials.

Community Colleges

$1,000,000

84.116S

Dec. 6, 2021

Modeling and Simulation programs

This program is designed to promote the study of modeling and simulation at institutions of higher education by promoting the enhancement or development of modeling and simulation degree and certificate programs.

Public or private nonprofit IHEs

$7,000,000