Good news for skills advocates: The federal government has released the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Digital Equity Competitive Grants. This funding is available as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the bipartisan infrastructure law.
Unlike the formula funding that is going to every state, these are discretionary, competitive grants. Nonprofit organizations and other eligible entities (see below) must apply by September 23, 2024 to have their proposals considered.
This funding is especially exciting because it is a new investment – beyond existing Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other longstanding federal education and workforce programs – in helping workers build digital skills. A full 92 percent of today’s jobs require digital skills, including frontline jobs in agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and construction.
How much funding is available?
Approximately $1 billion is available for Digital Equity Competitive Grants, to be expended over a four-year period. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is overseeing the grants and expects to fund projects in the $5 million to $12 million range.
Coalitions and partnerships are strongly encouraged. Applicants can be a subcontractor on multiple grant proposals but can only be the primary applicant on one grant proposal. There is a 10 percent matching funds requirement, which must be met with non-federal funds. In-kind matches are allowed.
Specific details on eligible organizations are available in the NOFO. However, here is a plain-English summary of the general categories:
In general, DE Competitive Grants are intended to fill in gaps that are not covered by the formula funding provided under the same legislation. (That formula funding is being distributed to state broadband offices now, and will be re-granted down to the local level in the months to come.)
Both formula funding and the new competitive grant opportunity are intended to help meet the digital inclusion needs laid out in each state’s Digital Equity Plan, which describe how the state will ensure that covered populations build digital skills, obtain internet access, and have up-to-date digital devices.
Covered populations include low-income individuals, rural residents, veterans, people of color, English language learners and people with limited literacy, older adults, people with disabilities, and incarcerated people.
For workforce and education advocates, the most relevant allowable activities for the DE competitive grants are:
Is anyone playing a “matchmaking” role for prospective grant applicants?
Because the federal government has signaled its interest in making fewer, larger grants to coalitions and partnerships rather smaller grants to individual organizations, many prospective applicants are looking to team up.
The nonprofit National Digital Inclusion Alliance is playing an informal air-traffic control role in connecting organizations who are planning to apply for DE competitive grants. Many state broadband offices are also providing formal or informal guidance for organizations that are considering applying. Find your broadband office’s contact information by selecting your state from this drop-down menu.
The federal agency overseeing these grants is offering a series of webinars for prospective applicants. If you are unable to attend a webinar live, recordings will be available on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) website.
Note: All times are Eastern Time Zone.
