The second round of the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, Indiana’s broadband grant program, kicked off in January.

Nearly 40% of all applications were filed by an Indiana electric cooperative. More than $100 million in requests were made by all applicants vying for a piece of the remaining $70 million in grant dollars that remain in the program. IEC anticipates the vast majority of the remaining $70 million to be awarded during this grant cycle.

The state is currently reviewing submitted applications and should be making awards in the near future. OCRA’s initial estimated timeline was to have awards made by August 1; however, we now believe the awards will likely be made closer to the middle of August.