Arlington, Va., (November 10, 2022)—The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, today announced the recipients of 31 grants totaling over $142,000 to support projects in communities served by NTCA members – the largest amount ever granted by the foundation.
The FRS grants, coupled with support from NTCA members, will support a broad range of community projects across rural America – from providing new equipment to local students, expanding digital inclusion initiatives, creating telehealth spaces, supporting public safety, and more.
“The community grant program is particularly exciting because FRS multiplies the support NTCA members are already providing in their communities resulting in a larger impact for local schools and nonprofit organizations,” said Pam Becker, Executive Director of FRS. She continued, “In addition to contributions from this year’s 24 partnering NTCA companies, we are also grateful for extra support from Farm Credit East, CoBank and its funding of the Virtual Living Room program, Womble Bond Dickinson, and the Carri Bennet Rural Economic Development Grant Fund.”
For a complete list of awardees, click here or see below:
Allardt Elementary School (Allardt, TN)
Awarded $5,000 to create and construct a greenhouse where students will plant, harvest and show the items grown in the greenhouse. Partnered with Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative Corporation.
Blue Rapids Playground (Blue Rapids, KS)
Awarded $5,000 to create a park playground that is safe and inclusive to all visitors and an environment to encourage families to visit. Partnered with Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc.
Clearwater Chamber of Commerce (Clearwater, NE)
Awarded $5,000 to build a small, private room in the Clearwater Public Library to be used for telehealth, mental health counseling and video calls for individuals and families that do not have access to technology or broadband services. Partnered with Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company. Grant award made possible by the Virtual Living Room program, sponsored by CoBank.
Dobson Rescue Squad (Dobson, NC)
Awarded $4,762 to purchase new communications equipment to better serve the community as the only medical/rescue unit in the area. Partnered with Surry Telephone Membership Corporation.
Doniphan County Rural Fire District #2 (Highland, KS)
Awarded $4,762 to outfit at least four firetrucks utilized by the volunteer fire department with an iPad configured to assist with emergency calls and general operations. Partnered with Rainbow Communications, LLC.
Flint & Steel Coalition (Mineola, TX)
Awarded $5,000 to create an audio production studio for Artistic Recreational Therapy (ART) House and purchase necessary equipment. Partnered with Peoples Telephone Cooperative.
Four Star Public Library District (Mendon, IL)
Awarded $5,000 to purchase a ViewSonic Interactive Whiteboard Computer, installed in a new meeting/program room for the purpose of presenting library programs, trainings, and community organizations’ meetings on a proven technological platform to engage participants and increase attendance at the library. Partnered with Adams Telephone Co-Operative.
Friends of Community Memorial Building Foundation (Lake City, IA)
Awarded $5,000 to create a digital archive to honor local veterans within the recently renovated Veterans Memorial Building. Partnered with Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association.
Greater Fergus Falls (Fergus Falls, MN)
Awarded $5,000 to provide smart room technology services for coworking spaces that will make trainings, workshops, and meetings functional and effective. Partnered with Park Region Mutual Telephone Company.
Hankinson Public Library (Hankinson, ND)
Awarded $4,100 to purchase new computers for the library that are used by patrons to apply for jobs, take tests for re-certification, and are used for the xSTREAM team, a STEM group. Partnered with Red River Rural Telephone Assn.
Hazen Public Library (Hazen, ND)
Awarded $1,475 to purchase new hard drives for outdated computer that are available for public use. Partnered with West River Telecommunications Cooperative.
Jackson County Development Association (McKee, KY)
Awarded $5,000 to revamp a public park with outdated equipment and to create a vibrant space with amenities for people of all ages and inclusivity. Partnered with Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative.
Kids Cove (Sterling, KS)
Awarded $5,000 to purchase a Robot Academy robotics package, providing students with opportunities to learn computer codes and programs, build and use robots, work as a team, follow complex directions, solve problems, be creative, become more detail orientated and engage in bringing STEAM projects into their families, the school and the community at large. Partnered with Mutual Telephone Co.
Livingston Middle School (Livingston, TN)
Awarded $5,000 to the school science department to purchase new and updated equipment for the science lab, including new digital microscopes, beakers, thermometers, metersticks, and other supplies needed to successfully participate in hands on labs and engagement within the science classroom and lab. Partnered with Twin Lakes Telephone Cooperative Corporation.
Macon County Schools (Lafayette, TN)
Awarded $5,000 to create a program in Unmanned Aircraft that would give students the foundational knowledge to pursue an industry recognized certification, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Remote Pilot Certificate. Partnered with North Central Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
Mad River Valley Recreation District (Waitsfield, VT)
Awarded $5,000 to install an irrigation system to minimize the maintenance expenses of reseeding and fertilizer required after increasingly frequent instances of summer heat and drought at the Mad River Valley Recreation District recreational fields used by youth recreation leagues and community members. Partnered with Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom. Grant award made possible by a generous gift from Farm Credit East.
Marshall County Arts Cooperative (Marysville, KS)
Awarded $5,000 to provide arts education to students in Marshall County through a weeklong, interactive summer camp to enrich the lives of elementary-aged students through the Choose Arts program. Partnered with Blue Valley Tele-Communications, Inc.
McPherson Fire Department (McPherson, KS)
Awarded $5,000 to purchase two Radio Communication Devices. Partnered with Mutual Telephone Co.
Monroe Volunteer Fire Department (Monroe, SD)
Awarded $5,000 to equip the community for landing a medical evacuation chopper, to have proper equipment for grain rescue, and provide education and training on both. Partnered with TM Rural Water District.
Moulton First Responders & Volunteers Ambulance Service (Moulton, IA)
Awarded $5,000 to purchase a new Physio Control LifePak 15 monitor/defibrillator for service that provides vital sign monitoring, lifesaving cardiac analysis and AED capabilities for patients in cardiac arrest. Partnered with Farmers Mutual Cooperative Telephone Company.
Ray High School (Ray, ND)
Awarded $1,900 to begin a program that will allow students to gain the credentials needed to become an EMT. Partnered with Northwest Communications Cooperative.
Santa Anna Independent School District (Santa Anna, TX)
Awarded $5,000 to host four literacy events for all PK-12 students, where students will get to choose up to 12 books for their personal “home libraries” over the course of the school year. Partnered with Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc.
Saunders County Robotics (Wahoo, NE)
Awarded $5,000 to purchase storage solutions, tools, and equipment for local K-12 STEM robotics students. Partnered with Northeast Nebraska Telephone Company.
Spring Grove Area Chamber of Commerce (Spring Grove, MN)
Awarded $5,000 to create a space for businesses and entrepreneurs to have access to presentation, promotional and other business materials, technology, and resources to help area entrepreneurs successfully grow and enhance their businesses. Partnered with Spring Grove Communications. Award made possible by the Carri Bennet Rural Economic Development Grant Fund.
Spring Valley Elementary (O’Neals, CA)
Awarded $5,000 to develop a media arts program in which students will use technology to create films, photos, and presentations that will teach them collaboration, marketing, storyboarding, editing, and producing skills. Partnered with Ponderosa Telephone.
Stanton Community Schools (Stanton, IA)
Awarded $5,000 to purchase Smart boards and Clear Touch Panels to enhance education in classrooms. Partnered with Farmers Mutual Telephone Company.
The Friends of the North Fork Library (North Folk, CA)
Awarded $3,694 to purchase two computers to help library visitors as the only public computers and internet in the community. Partnered with Ponderosa Telephone.
USD #112 Central Plains (Holyrood, KS)
Awarded $5,000 to bring STEM activities to life with expert live science experiences, through demonstrations and engaging activities, and the stories and lessons taught through space exploration. Partnered with H&B Communications, Inc.
USD 419 (Galva, KS)
Awarded $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.
Valley Lake Boy's Home (Breckenridge, MN)
Awarded $1,322 to purchase two iPads for the residents to use with video conferencing platforms used by various entities for the care and treatment of the boys who reside at the home. Partnered with Red River Rural Telephone Assn.
Warren Branch Library (Warren, AR)
Awarded $5,000 to create a program for children by using AWE Early Literacy computers with interactive content and reliable technology to increase early literacy skills. Partnered with South Arkansas Telephone Company Inc.
The Foundation for Rural Service (FRS), the philanthropic arm of NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association and its members, seeks to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America by advancing an understanding of rural issues. Through scholarships, grants, and a variety of educational programs, FRS focuses on educating rural youth, encouraging community development, and introducing policymakers to challenges unique to rural communities. Visit us at www.frs.org.
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 850 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. In an era of transformative technological advancements, regulatory challenges and marketplace competition, NTCA members are leading the technological evolution for rural consumers, delivering robust and high-quality services over future-proof networks that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development, e-commerce, health care, agriculture and education, and it contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy each year. Visit us at www.ntca.org.