Broadband Construction Grant

The Broadband Construction Grant program is administered by the Washington State Public Works Board and funded through the Coronavirus Capital Project Fund under the American Rescue Plan Act. The program is designed to expand access to reliable broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas of Washington State. It focuses on addressing connectivity gaps that became more pronounced during the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting projects that enable remote work, education, healthcare access, and other essential services. The primary purpose of the program is to fund the acquisition, installation, and construction of last-mile broadband infrastructure. Eligible projects must demonstrate that they will deliver high-speed internet service to households and businesses that currently lack sufficient connectivity. Funded projects are expected to provide broadband service that meets or exceeds 100 Mbps download and upload speeds, although exceptions may be considered in cases where geography, topography, or excessive costs make this standard impractical. Projects must also be scalable to meet these performance benchmarks over time. A minimum of $5.1 million is available through this funding cycle, with the potential for additional funds depending on availability. The program establishes different funding caps based on project location and applicant type. Most applicants may receive up to $2,000,000 per project, while projects located in distressed rural counties or areas designated as Indian Country may receive up to $5,000,000. Awards are made through a competitive evaluation process based on project readiness, community impact, access improvements, and outreach efforts. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribes, local governments, special purpose districts, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, and privately owned entities. While a wide range of organizations may apply, the program prioritizes tribal applicants, followed by local government entities. Applicants are required to demonstrate that their proposed project areas are unserved or underserved and must provide evidence of community support, planning readiness, and compliance with state and federal requirements. The application process includes a pre-application phase followed by a full application submission. Applicants must notify nearby broadband service providers during the pre-application stage and provide documentation of this outreach. Applications are submitted electronically through an online portal and must include required documentation such as capital facilities plans, evidence of unserved status, and confirmation of partnerships with internet service providers when applicable. The process also includes an objection period during which existing service providers may challenge proposed project areas. The application window opened on March 31, 2026, with pre-applications due on April 15, 2026, and final applications due on June 1, 2026. Following submission, applications are evaluated and ranked, and conditional awards are expected to be made in June 2026. Projects funded through this program must reach substantial completion and expend all funds by December 31, 2026, ensuring timely delivery of broadband services to target communities. Applicants are evaluated based on a scoring system that considers planning readiness, project feasibility, community impact, access and affordability, and outreach efforts. The program emphasizes equitable access and prioritizes projects that address critical connectivity needs. For additional information or assistance, applicants may contact program staff at the Washington State Department of Commerce, including designated coordinators responsible for application support and program guidance.

Applicants should ensure strong documentation of unserved areas, demonstrate project readiness, and provide evidence of community support and ISP coordination to strengthen scoring across evaluation criteria.