Rural Technology Assistance Grants

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has announced a program of Rural Technology Assistance Grants. These funds are to be used for programs and services that increase technology usage and/or availability in rural counties. For the purpose of this program, rural counties are defined as those where all municipal populations are less than 20,000. The deadline for applications for a New Initiatives Grant Class is 4:30 p.m. September 10, 2009. This program will allocate $1.5 million through competitive grants for initiatives that address the expansion of broadband connectivity, decrease K-12 student to computer ratios or expand rural distance learning opportunities. More information about eligible programs, the grant review process and funding priorities is available at the website for the Department of Economic and Community Development under the heading "Rural Technology Grants".