Community Grants Program

Community Grants Program is sponsored by Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri. Provides program/project support or general operating grants for registered 501(c)(3) organizations, local units of government, and faith-based groups serving the 12-county regional area (including Adams, Brown, Hancock, and Pike counties in Illinois), which frequently covers co…

Community Grant Program | FRS - Foundation for Rural Service Supporting Your Communities Congratulations to the 2026 FRS Community Grant awardees! See a full list of awardees and their projects below. As part of its ongoing commitment to rural communities across the country, FRS offers aid to communities served by NTCA members through its annual Community Grant Program.

These grants are designed to provide support to a variety of local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in rural America. Applications for these grants are accepted each summer, ranging from $250 to $5,000. The grants awarded each November support a variety of projects concentrated in four major categories.

Congratulations to our 2026 Grant Awardees! These incredible communities each reflect the vision, service and innovation at the heart of rural America. Their winning projects help rural communities across the United States overcome an array of challenges, including access to technology, improving educational offerings, and providing first-responder services to rural areas.

Congratulations to the awardees and thank you to the generous partnering NTCA members who made these investments possible. Aging and Disability Resource Center of Dunn County - Menomonie, WI Awarded $5,000 to purchase Personal Emergency Response System devices for county residents at risk from falls, memory concerns or wandering, helping them remain safe and independent in their homes. Partnered with West Wisconsin Telcom.

Alamogordo Public Schools - Alamogordo, NM Awarded $5,000 to replace outdated laboratory equipment and instructional technology, restoring STEM and digital media learning opportunities across the district. Partnered with Tularosa Communications. Anita Public Library - Anita, IA Awarded $5,000 to replace the library circulation desk to improve engagement between staff and patrons.

Partnered with Westel Systems. Archer City ISD Education Foundation - Archer City, TX Awarded $5,000 to give healthcare and agriculture students access to the Anatomage virtual dissection platform. Partnered with Brazos Communications.

Brimfield Public Library District - Brimfield, IL Awarded $5,000 to purchase an assistive listening system so individuals with hearing loss can fully participate in library programs. Partnered with Mid Century Communications. Camp Knutson - Crosslake, MN Awarded $4,974 to purchase an AED and iPads to strengthen on-site emergency response and camper information management.

Partnered with Tremolo Communications. City of Jenkins - Jenkins, MN Awarded $4,983 to install ADA-accessible picnic tables and additional seating in the public park. Partnered with Tremolo Communications.

Coon Creek Fire and Rescue - Coon Valley, WI Awarded $5,000 to purchase firefighting turnout gear fitted for the department's female firefighters. Partnered with Coon Valley Farmers Telephone Company. Cordova Jr./Sr. High School - Cordova, AK Awarded $4,894 to replace aging 3D printers and supply filament for student projects.

Partnered with Cordova Telecom Cooperative. Decatur Health - Oberlin, KS Awarded $5,000 to purchase a pediatric digital scale for its rural health family practice clinic. Partnered with Nex-Tech.

Emerson-Hubbard High School Robotics Team 9570 - Emerson, NE Awarded $5,000 to purchase robot parts, tools and storage for the team's competition season. Partnered with Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company Frankfort City Library - Frankfort, KS Awarded $5,000 to install a permanent StoryWalk in Frankfort City Park, promoting literacy and outdoor activity for families. Partnered with Blue Valley Technologies.

Geary County Rural Fire Department - Junction City, KS Awarded $3,950 to purchase wildland firefighting equipment that strengthens suppression and mutual aid response across Flint Hills. Partnered with Twin Valley. General N.

B. Baker Library - Sutherland, IA Awarded $1,600 to purchase 145 children's books, audiobook players and seating for a dedicated listening area. Partnered with WesTel Systems.

Genoa Fire Protection District - Genoa, CO Awarded $5,000 to replace aging communications gear with reliable multi-channel handheld radios. Partnered with Eastern Slope Technologies. Griggsville-Perry CUSD 4 - Griggsville, IL Awarded $4,800 to refurbish the high school library with new furniture, library management software and computers.

Partnered with Adams Fiber. Jim Ned Volunteer Fire Department - Tuscola, TX Awarded $3,914 to replace outdated radios with Bluetooth-capable units that integrate with firefighters' SCBA equipment. Partnered with Taylor Telecom.

Karval Fire Protection District - Karval, CO Awarded $4,432 to purchase a rugged field computer so EMS providers can complete electronic patient care reports on scene. Partnered with Eastern Slope Technologies. Lake Region Healthcare - Fergus Falls, MN Awarded $4,991 to purchase vision and hearing screening equipment for early identification of concerns in children and teens.

Partnered with Park Region Telephone Company. Lewis Public Library - Lewis, IA Awarded $4,060 to purchase a laptop, barcode scanner, laptop cart and 40 audio-enabled books to expand technology access and literacy programming. Partnered with Griswold Communications.

Little Castle Learning & Development Center - Artesia, NM Awarded $3,000 to expand its preschool lending library, so families have greater access to educational resources at home. Partnered with Peñasco Valley Telephone Cooperative. Napoleon Public School - Napoleon, ND Awarded $5,000 to install two interactive display monitors supporting classroom instruction, community meetings and music education.

Partnered with BEK Communications. Northeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging - Hiawatha, KS Awarded $5,000 to establish a Technology Center offering older adults digital skills training, online safety education and individualized support. Partnered with Rainbow Communications.

This grant is made possible by a gift from the Carri Bennet Economic Development Fund. Awarded $5,000 to purchase iPads for newly hired behavioral health clinical associates serving youth and families throughout the Mat-Su Valley. Partnered with MTA.

Sampson County Emergency Management - Clinton, NC Awarded $5,000 to equip EMS ambulances and quick response vehicles with iPads for faster access to patient and medical information. Partnered with Star Communications. Sullivan County Memorial Hospital Foundation - Milan, MO Awarded $5,000 to purchase three automated external defibrillators.

Partnered with NEMR. Surry County Sheriff's Office - Dobson, NC Awarded $4,830 to purchase seven hand-held ballistic shields to protect deputies responding to high-risk calls. Partnered with Surry Communications.

Taylor Regional Hospital - Campbellsville, KY Awarded $4,170 to purchase portable iPads that expand its remote language interpretation platform for patients who are deaf, hard of hearing or limited English proficient. Partnered with DUO Broadband. The City of Arkansas City - Arkansas City, KS Awarded $1,500 to replenish digital and classroom equipment supporting volunteer-led community programming.

Partnered with KanOkla. Awarded $5,000 to purchase recreational and fitness equipment for its newly renovated community center and gym. Partnered with Nunn Telephone Company.

Town of Pioche - Pioche, NV Awarded $5,000 to improve aquatic safety at the community pool with an outdoor emergency communication system, an eyewash station and an expanded lifeguard rescue station. Partnered with Lincoln County Telephone System. Village of Coldwater - Coldwater, OH Awarded $5,000 to place automated external defibrillators in community parks and recreation areas used year-round for sporting events and festivals.

Partnered with Wabash Mutual Telephone Company. Wright Middle School - Abbeville, SC Awarded $5,000 to purchase equipment that expands hands-on STEM learning opportunities for students. Partnered with West Carolina.

Together, We Can Boost Our Community FRS Community Grants are awarded annually to nonprofit organizations, schools, community groups, municipalities and other organizations doing good work in your community. Please see below for the list of projects funded this year and for more information about priority projects, as well as projects that are not eligible for grants. Interested in applying for an FRS Community Grant?

Please follow these steps: 1. Identify an NTCA member partner for your FRS Community grant application. Heard about the application from your broadband provider?

They are your NTCA member partner. Please contact [email protected] if you are not sure who your NTCA member partner is. 2.

Review the application guide below or on the back of the Community Grant Flyer you may have received from your broadband provider. The guide includes the questions you will need to answer and the information you’ll need to complete the application. 3.

Provide your application to your NTCA member partner by their deadline. Applications that have not been submitted by your NTCA member sponsor will not be reviewed. The application guide is identical to the application.

Please use it to create and submit your application to your NTCA member. All applications must be submitted by your NTCA member partner. FRS Provides priority to projects that: Could be fully funded by the grant maximum of $5,000 or have at least 75% of the project currently funded.

Technology and broadband enabled focused projects. Have a long-term impact for the community and its residents. Promote community participation and engagement.

Create a more sustainable rural community.

FRS will not award projects to: Applicants who received grant funding from FRS within the past two years Overhead Expenses (salaries, rent, utilities, insurance) Pass-through Funding (scholarship or re-granting programs) Seed funding or projects that have not secured at least 75% of the required funds for completion Conferences, Events, Travel, and Staff Training Membership or Dues-based Programs International Organizations Lobbying and Political Programming Religious Activities or Resources Infrastructure/Building Campaigns Capital Campaigns or Endowments Debt Reduction Efforts or Loan Repayments What are the four grant categories?

Business & Economic Development Public Service & First Responders Together, We Can Boost Our Community NTCA members, submitting applications for the FRS Community Grant Program is easy as 1... 2... 3...

Download the flyer, personalize it with your logo, contact information, and your chosen deadline and distribute it within your community. Have your community members submit their proposals to you by your chosen deadline. Select the three (3) proposals your telco would like to partner with and submit your application through Member Central by September 4, 2026 .

Note: NTCA member companies will be responsible for a 20% match (i.e., if the applicant requests and wins a grant for $5,000, the NTCA member company is responsible for $1,000 and FRS is responsible for $4,000). *Applications for the 2026 FRS Community Grant Program are currently under review, and a full list of recipients will be announced shortly.

2022 FRS Community Grant recipient USD 419 (Galva, KS) surprised by their NTCA Partner Home Communications, Inc. that they have been selected for a $5,000 to purchase Boogie Boards and table top charging stations for enhanced classroom learning and activities.

Partnered with Home Telephone Company dba Home Communications, Inc. Invaluable Insight on the FRS Grant Program Each year, the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) gives back to rural communities through the grant program. In 2018, FRS awarded 12 grants for a total of nearly $50,000.

Thank you to the 2018 sponsors who made the grant program possible: Ericsson, Inc., NISC, Womble Bond Dickinson, Mapcom Systems, Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) and Toly Digital. See how the grants open opportunities to rural communities. Thank you to our Community Grant Sponsor Womble Bond Dickinson