Description
OVERVIEW
The Vermont Community Broadband Board (“Board") invites proposals from Eligible Providers as defined herein for funds to promote the ability of sub-applicants to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. This program provides needs-based grants to assist in preparing a BEAD Application. Awards range from $10,000-$200,000 to be used for planning, analysis, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, legal (if a collaborative approach is proposed), and short-term capacity necessary to plan and draft an application to the BEAD program.
BACKGROUND
In 2023, the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) was awarded $229 million in funding from the federal Broadband Equity and Deployment (BEAD) Program. In an effort to promote a competitive program, the VCBB established the BEAD Subrecipient Support Program. The VCBB Board has approved $1 million to provide needs-based grants to Eligible Providers to ensure they have the resources required to participate in the competitive BEAD grant program.
GOALS
• To ensure all types of Eligible Providers have the ability to compete in the BEAD program.
• To encourage collaboration among potential subgrantees to promote the efficient expenditure of grant funding. This can lower costs and promote great oversight and accountability.
• To encourage planning in expectation of the subrecipient selection process raising the quality of applications received.
• To raise the caliber of the applications received during the BEAD subrecipient selection process.
• To gather information to inform the implementation of the program from key stakeholders