Community Enhancement Program — Broadband and Cellular Expansion Projects
Highlights
This program is designed for businesses like yours to improve broadband and cellular coverage in Northern Ontario. It offers up to $1 million in funding, covering 50% of eligible costs. This can significantly reduce your financial burden while expanding your connectivity infrastructure.
Key Benefits:
- Substantial Funding: Up to $1,000,000 per project.
- Cost Efficiency: Average funding of $500 per dwelling within the coverage area.
- Enhanced Connectivity: Projects delivering 50 mbps or greater can receive up to $1,500 per dwelling.
Why Apply?
- Government-Backed Support: This conditional contribution ensures you have reliable financial backing.
- Improved Service: Enhance your business's competitiveness with better broadband and cellular coverage.
- Easy Application Process: Create an account, follow the instructions, and submit your application. You’ll hear back in 2 to 4 weeks.
This program is a straightforward way to secure essential funding and improve your business's connectivity, making it a valuable opportunity for growth and development.
Financing Details
Type of Financing: Conditional Contribution
Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:
- No repayment required if all conditions are met.
Eligible Expenses:
- Broadband or cellular-related capital and equipment costs (e.g., towers, antennas, electronics, site buildings).
- Projects must deliver a minimum of 25 Mbps to consumers.
Use of Funds:
- Up to 50% of eligible costs, with a maximum of $1 million per project.
- Targeted funding of $500 per dwelling within the coverage area.
- Projects delivering 50 Mbps or greater may receive up to $1,500 per dwelling.
Ineligible Expenses:
- Funds cannot be used to overbuild existing network solutions.
Fees:
- No application or processing fees associated with this program.
Qualifications
- Must be a municipality, municipal organization, Indigenous Community, or community-based network (not-for-profit economic development/innovation centres) in Northern Ontario.
Must have applied to and been declined funding under other Ontario infrastructure programs, including the Improving Connectivity in Ontario (ICON) program administered by the Ministry of Infrastructure (MOI) and/or do not meet the eligibility requirements.
Disqualifications:
- Businesses or organizations not located in Northern Ontario.
- Projects that have not applied to other available infrastructure programs or cannot provide a detailed explanation of ineligibility.
Description
This program offers a great chance to improve your business's connectivity. You can receive up to $1 million to help expand broadband and cellular coverage in areas that need it most. This funding covers 50% of eligible costs, with a focus on capital and equipment like towers, antennas, and electronics.
The program aims to deliver minimum speeds of 25 megabits per second (mbps) to areas currently underserved. If your project can deliver speeds of 50 mbps or greater, you could receive up to $1,500 per dwelling.
The funding is a conditional contribution, meaning you don't have to pay it back as long as you meet the program's requirements. This is a valuable opportunity to enhance your business's connectivity and reach more customers.
Program Steps
Create Your Account:
- Go to the application portal.
- Fill in your first name, last name, user name, organization name, email, and password.
- Confirm your email and password.
- Click "Register."
Log In:
- If you already have an account, log in using your credentials.
Prepare Documentation:
- Map and identification of property defining the geographic coverage of the project.
- Overview of the network design demonstrating delivery of speeds as outlined.
- Documentation showing attempts to obtain funding from other programs (e.g., ICON program).
- Detailed explanation if the project was ineligible for other programs.
Complete Application Sections:
- Follow the onscreen instructions to complete each section of your application.
- Provide all required information and upload necessary documents.
Submit Application:
- Review your application to ensure all information is accurate and complete.
- Click "Submit application."
Wait for Response:
- You will hear back from the NOHFC in 2 to 4 weeks regarding the status of your application.