Minority-Serving Institutions

Funding Opportunities for Minority Serving Institutions

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 created the “Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program.” $285 million allocated to the Program will provide grant funding to eligible recipients to purchase broadband or eligible equipment, or to hire and train information technology personnel.

Eligible Entities

Eligible entities include:

• Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU)

• Tribal colleges and universities (TCU)

• Minority-serving institutions (MSI), which include:

  • Hispanic-serving institutions (HSI)

  • Alaska Native-serving institutions (ANSI)

  • Native Hawaiian-serving institutions (NHSI)

  • Predominantly Black institutions (PBI)

  • Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISI)

  • Native American-serving, nontribal institutions (NASNTI)

• A consortium led by an HBCUs, TCUs, HSIs, or MSIs, that also includes a minority business enterprise or a nonprofit organization in the anchor community.

It is highly recommended that eligible applicants consider applying via a partnership or consortium. A national competition such as this one will likely be heavily influenced by each application's ability to make the largest and broadest possible impact on communities.

Award Allocation

Of the total awards given through the program, at least 40% of grants must be made to HBCUs, and at least 20% of grants must be made to HBCUs, TCUs, and other minority serving institutions to provide broadband service or equipment to their students.

Eligible equipment includes Wi-Fi hotspots; modems, routers, or combined modem/routers; laptops, tablets, or similar internet-connected devices; and any other equipment used to provide broadband.

What will the grant support?

For higher education recipients, grants are intended to support instruction and learning, including remote learning. For minority business enterprises and nonprofits, grants are intended to support the operation of the organization.

Educational institutions that receive a grant to support student connectivity must prioritize students that:

• Are eligible to receive the Pell Grant

• Receive need-based financial aid from the federal government, state, or the institution

• Qualify for the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program

• Earn less than 150% of the federal poverty level

• Have been approved to receive unemployment insurance since March 1, 2020

CTC offers helpful recommendations for how to strategically approach developing an application to the CMC program. Additionally they offer these recommendations for preparing any application for these emerging NTIA programs.