February 17, 2021

A broadband grant is open for applications through March 5, 2021. The $1 million Expanding Potential in Communities (EPIC) Grant program is funded by Truist Bank and administered by the Internet Society  https://www.internetsociety.org/grants/epic/.   This program provides grants for eligible communities across the southeast United States, including Florida, ranging from $125,000-180,000.

Non-profit organizations, local governments, municipalities, townships, public-private partnerships, and cooperative organizations are eligible to apply for the Truist EPIC Grant. The grant is geared towards networks that serve low-income communities with significant Black, Indigenous, and diverse populations. Grant funding may be used to build a new network or expand an existing one.

Applicants must meet the following “Eligibility Criteria” to be considered for a grant:

• Timeframe – project must show tangible results* within a year of receiving funding. Funding will occur in two stages between April and December 2021.
• Bandwidth – project must provide a minimum broadband threshold for deployment.
• Applicant must have an official bank account in their name (based on their legal registration) in order to be eligible for a grant.

Grant proposals who meet the minimum eligibility above will be reviewed against the following criteria:

• Dedicated local champion
• Community-backed support
• Sustainability plan
• Minimum bandwidth requirements
• Availability of local tech partners (ISP, IXP)
• Financial management skills
• Digital literacy
• Low barrier from local laws – low license fees
• Available spectrum (low fees)
• End user hardware available (phone, computer, WiFi router)
• Power infrastructure for towers
• Local infrastructure for deployment (schools, libraries)
• Target demographic impacted

Thank you.

   Katie Smith
   Director, Office of Community Partnerships & Florida Office of Broadband
   Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
   Office: 850-717-8445
   Katie.Smith@deo.myflorida.com