ARPA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program (BIP)

The application cycle for this program has closed. Program awards have been made to applicant entities.

Awarded project locations can be found here.

Description

BIP will bring fiber broadband to more than 50,000 unserved and underserved Missouri addresses through $261 million in awards made to internet service providers in 2023. ARPA projects are proceeding under different timelines but must be operational by September 30, 2026. Missouri residents interested in seeing if their home or business will be part of an ARPA award should search their address on broadbandmap.mo.gov.

Do I Qualify?

This is a competitive grant program. The maximum grant award will be $10,000,000. The minimum grant award will be $100,000. The applicant maximum for program is $100 million. Local cost match is not required; however prioritization will be given to projects for which the applicant is including a private funding match of at least 20%, and additional credit will be given to projects receiving local government funding.

Eligible entities:

  • Corporations
  • Or partnerships;
  • Limited liability companies;
  • Nonprofit organizations;
  • Local Governments;
  • Rural electric cooperatives organized under chapter 394 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and their broadband affiliates;
  • Telephone cooperatives, as defined in §386.020(55); and
  • Public-private partnerships, with private or nonprofit partners that are registered in this state

How Do I Apply?

Application cycle is currently closed. Funds have been awarded to applicants.

Need Help?

Need help?

Our team is standing by to answer broadband questions.

Submit a Question

Receive email updates

Whether you're a stakeholder or just interested in broadband development, click the link below to get the latest delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe for Updates

Documents

Missouri ARPA Funded Broadband Infrastructure Grant Guidelines - Final
Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program Summary
Broadband Infrastructure FAQs
Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program Application Questions
ARPA Budget Template - Broadband
ARPA Broadband Grant Timeline
Office of Broadband Development Capital Projects Fund 2023 Performance Report
Missouri Office of Broadband Development Capital Project Fund 2024 Performance Report
Data Location Sheet - Passed
State awards $261 million through the ARPA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program to fund 60 broadband expansion projects

The Department of Economic Development (DED) announced that it has awarded a total of $261 million through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program to 60 recipients for projects that will expand and improve internet access statewide. Projects receiving funds are expected to create more than 55,000 connections in locations that previously lacked adequate internet access.

ARPA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program Challenge Process

The ARPA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program Challenge Process will close on November 13, 2022 11:59 pm Central Time.

To ensure transparency and best use of taxpayer funds, the application process includes a proposed service area challenge process. OBD has published below: the applicant entity name, project name, proposed project location (by county), technology type, proposed connection speed (highest offered speed is listed), and executive summary for the proposed project. There is also an interactive map below showing the proposed service area polygons.  

A broadband internet service provider that provides existing service in or adjacent to a proposed service area may submit to OBD a written challenge to an application based on its proposed service area. Within three business days of receiving a challenge, OBD will notify the applicant of such challenge.

A challenge will succeed when OBD determines that, for the proposed project service area, the challenger:

  1. Currently provides broadband services meeting baseline speed of 100/20 Mbps; or
  2. Has begun construction to provide such services; or
  3. Has an enforceable commitment to provide broadband internet service at speeds of at least 100/20 Mbps and scalable to higher speeds to the proposed service area in a timeframe similar to that proposed for the applicant’s project.

View the Challenge Map.

Note: OBD has updated the Challenge Map with all provided application polygons from the proposed project service areas as of October 20, 2022.

View the list of ARPA Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program projects.

Access the Challenge Application.

Additional Resources
  • ARPA Community Identifier Map
    This newly created ARPA Community Identifier Map identifies areas of the state with higher than moderate, moderate, and low income areas as well as qualified census tracts.
  • Broadband Availability Map
    The Broadband Availability by census block has been updated to include RDOF and NTIA grant awards.