The Digital Opportunity Networks Grant Program supports networks of partners, including nonprofit organizations, state agencies, community anchor institutions, and local, regional, or tribal government entities, to advance digital inclusion initiatives for populations most affected by the digital divide. Grants will fund projects that provide comprehensive digital inclusion services, including internet access, digital skill development, access to devices, technical support, and internet safety education.
As outlined in the Maine Digital Equity Plan, true connectivity goes beyond just ensuring broadband reaches homes and businesses. Communities lacking affordable, reliable high-speed internet, necessary devices, tech support, digital skills, and online safety awareness face significant barriers to success. These gaps limit opportunities in education, workforce development, healthcare, and more.
These grants will:
Invest in organizational networks such as chapters of statewide organizations or associations, initiatives or agencies, or place-based networks such as regional broad-based coalitions
Integrate digital inclusion activities into programs that benefit and support people and communities identified in the Digital Equity Act as most impacted by the digital divide
Implement Maine’s Digital Equity Plan strategies and goals, including leveraging partners and networks to reach 50,000 Maine people who are members of the covered populations with affordable devices, digital skills, internet safety education, and tech support.
Improve economic, workforce, educational, health, civic, social opportunities for people most impacted by the digital divide.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, state agencies, community anchor institutions, and local, regional or Tribal government entities. One organization must serve as a lead applicant, coordinating other partners who are engaged in the project and programming that may be offered through a project.
Proposed projects must provide all four of the following areas of digital inclusion support to people or communities they serve: digital skills training, devices that meet the needs of the user, technical support, and internet safety education, AND must exclusively or primarily provide these programs and services to individuals defined as “covered populations'' by the Digital Equity Act.
How to Apply
The Digital Opportunity Networks program is an open and competitive grant process. Potential applicants must submit a Letter of Intent as the first phase of the application by 11:59PM on March 3, 2025. Invitations to apply will be based on the strength of the submitted proposal in meeting the criteria and goals of the program, an initial evaluation of the organizational, managerial and financial capacity of the applicant, and on ensuring a diversity of populations reached, project impacts, and types of applicants and partners. All invited applicants must meet the basic criteria for the program. MCA will be utilizing this two phase approach to ensure consideration of all interested applicants’ project proposals while limiting the need for developing a more comprehensive application submission to invited applicants who have the highest likelihood of receiving funding. Invited applicants submit complete applications by 11:59PM on April 30, 2025.
STEP 1: Applicants must complete the Letter of Intent in the MCA Grant Portal by March 3, 2025.
STEP 2: MCA will review and score all Letters of Intent and notify applicants who are invited to complete a full application by April 1.
STEP 3: Invited applicants must complete the full application in the MCA Grant Portal by April 30, 2025.
STEP 4: Proposals outlined in full applications will be reviewed and awarded by MCA staff and Board by July 2025.
STEP 5: MCA will submit the full list of subgrantees to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by August 1, 2025, while contracting takes place.
MCA reserves the right, though is not required, to ask applicants to make minor adjustments to proposals in order to facilitate full review of a project or facilitate a grant decision or award.
Digital Opportunity Networks
The Digital Opportunity Networks Grant Program supports networks of partners, including nonprofit organizations, state agencies, community anchor institutions, and local, regional, or tribal government entities, to advance digital inclusion initiatives for populations most affected by the digital divide. Grants will fund projects that provide comprehensive digital inclusion services, including internet access, digital skill development, access to devices, technical support, and internet safety education.
As outlined in the Maine Digital Equity Plan, true connectivity goes beyond just ensuring broadband reaches homes and businesses. Communities lacking affordable, reliable high-speed internet, necessary devices, tech support, digital skills, and online safety awareness face significant barriers to success. These gaps limit opportunities in education, workforce development, healthcare, and more.
These grants will:
Invest in organizational networks such as chapters of statewide organizations or associations, initiatives or agencies, or place-based networks such as regional broad-based coalitions
Integrate digital inclusion activities into programs that benefit and support people and communities identified in the Digital Equity Act as most impacted by the digital divide
Implement Maine’s Digital Equity Plan strategies and goals, including leveraging partners and networks to reach 50,000 Maine people who are members of the covered populations with affordable devices, digital skills, internet safety education, and tech support.
Improve economic, workforce, educational, health, civic, social opportunities for people most impacted by the digital divide.
Who is Eligible to Apply?
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, state agencies, community anchor institutions, and local, regional or Tribal government entities. One organization must serve as a lead applicant, coordinating other partners who are engaged in the project and programming that may be offered through a project.
Proposed projects must provide all four of the following areas of digital inclusion support to people or communities they serve: digital skills training, devices that meet the needs of the user, technical support, and internet safety education, AND must exclusively or primarily provide these programs and services to individuals defined as “covered populations'' by the Digital Equity Act.
How to Apply
The Digital Opportunity Networks program is an open and competitive grant process. Potential applicants must submit a Letter of Intent as the first phase of the application by 11:59PM on March 3, 2025. Invitations to apply will be based on the strength of the submitted proposal in meeting the criteria and goals of the program, an initial evaluation of the organizational, managerial and financial capacity of the applicant, and on ensuring a diversity of populations reached, project impacts, and types of applicants and partners. All invited applicants must meet the basic criteria for the program. MCA will be utilizing this two phase approach to ensure consideration of all interested applicants’ project proposals while limiting the need for developing a more comprehensive application submission to invited applicants who have the highest likelihood of receiving funding. Invited applicants submit complete applications by 11:59PM on April 30, 2025.
STEP 1: Applicants must complete the Letter of Intent in the MCA Grant Portal by March 3, 2025.
STEP 2: MCA will review and score all Letters of Intent and notify applicants who are invited to complete a full application by April 1.
STEP 3: Invited applicants must complete the full application in the MCA Grant Portal by April 30, 2025.
STEP 4: Proposals outlined in full applications will be reviewed and awarded by MCA staff and Board by July 2025.
STEP 5: MCA will submit the full list of subgrantees to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) by August 1, 2025, while contracting takes place.
MCA reserves the right, though is not required, to ask applicants to make minor adjustments to proposals in order to facilitate full review of a project or facilitate a grant decision or award.