Digital Equity Act: Funding Available for Native Entities at a Glance
September 20, 2024
| Program Name | State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program: Native Entities* (NE Capacity & Planning Grant Program) *Includes both Capacity Grant Funds and Planning Grant Funds. Applicants must apply for either only Capacity Grant Funds, or both Capacity and Planning Grant Funds. | Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program including: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL POOL FUNDING | SET-ASIDE | ||
| Eligible Entities | Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Entities, and Native Hawaiian organizations | Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations are included within the definition of an Eligible Entity under the Digital Equity Act. Applications will be considered in the general pool funding. | Indian Tribes, Alaska Native entities, or Native Hawaiian organizations; All beneficiaries of the proposed activities and interventions must be members of a Native Entity. |
| Amount of Funding Available | $45,300,000, of which
Applicants must apply for either only Capacity Grant Funds, OR both Capacity and Planning Grant Funds. | $750M through Fiscal Year 2024; additional $250M if FY2025 funds are made available | NTIA will reserve $37,500,000 for grant awards to Native Entities through FY2024 NTIA will reserve an additional $12,500,000 for Native Entities of FY2025 funds if made available |
| Cost Share/Matching | None | At least 10%; but may seek a waiver | |
| Application Window | 9/25/24 – 2/7/25 | 7/24/24-9/23/24 | |
| Expected Award Size | $500K-$2M | $5M - $12M | |
| Methods to Apply |
| Electronically: NTIA Grants Portal | |
| Period of Performance | Five-year period of performance | Four-year period of performance + one year period of evaluation | |
| Authorization to Apply | Consortium applications are encouraged. Each Native Entity can only submit one (1) application. Applicants that submit an individual application cannot also be part of a consortium application. A Native Entity may only participate in one consortium. | Partnership applications are encouraged. Must include a Letter of Commitment from each member of the Partnership. Can submit an application and participate as a Partner in other Partnership applications. | |
| Cost Share/Matching | May appoint a non-profit corporation authorized by the governing body of the Native Entity to administer Capacity and Planning Grant Funds on behalf of the eligible Native Entity. If a Native Entity intends to utilize an authorized non-profit organization for this purpose, the Native Entity should identify the organization in its application and discuss the role and activities of such organization. | Tribal Government Resolution or equivalent formal authorization from the governing body of the Native Entity providing express authority to file an application for Competitive Grant Funds. | |
Funding Programs