Municipal Fiber Grant Program

The Municipal Fiber Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Division of Local Services (DLS), in partnership with the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security and the Office of Municipal and School Technology. This program supports the construction or completion of municipally owned fiber optic networks. It is part of the Commonwealth’s broader Community Compact Cabinet initiative, aimed at fostering stronger local infrastructure, enhancing cybersecurity, and supporting digital transformation across cities and towns in Massachusetts. The primary objective of the Municipal Fiber Grant Program is to address critical gaps in municipal fiber networks, with the intention of improving IT infrastructure management, network security, disaster recovery capabilities, and overall efficiency in local government operations. By investing in robust municipal fiber infrastructure, the Commonwealth aims to facilitate centralized network monitoring, cybersecurity enforcement, records management, and backup systems. The program supports municipalities in achieving greater control over IT operations and service delivery, while also enabling cost savings through bandwidth aggregation and improved network security infrastructure. Only fiber that is owned by the municipality is eligible under this program, ensuring that the benefits of the infrastructure are retained by public entities. Eligible projects include the installation of new fiber to connect municipal assets, upgrading of existing fiber lines, and the procurement of associated hardware, software, and services necessary for network deployment. Notably, costs such as internal building networking, ongoing operations and maintenance, feasibility studies, and software-as-a-service subscriptions are excluded from eligibility. The program is available to all municipalities in Massachusetts that did not receive funding through the FY25 cycle. The application window for the FY26 grant cycle opens on March 2, 2026, and closes at noon on April 2, 2026. Each applicant must use the personalized application link provided in the FY26 Community Compact Cabinet kickoff letter, which was emailed in December 2025 to the Chief Municipal Executive of each municipality. The application process involves answering a series of structured questions ranging from previous grant history and entity details to project goals, sustainability, budgeting, and performance measurement. A detailed project timeline, map of fiber deployment, vendor quotes, and contact information must also be submitted. This program requires a local match of at least 5%, which may be satisfied either through in-kind services or local funds. Projects may be submitted by individual municipalities or through a multi-jurisdictional approach where multiple municipalities collaborate on shared IT goals. In the latter case, one municipality must act as the lead and submit a joint application on behalf of the group. Single-entity proposals are eligible for awards up to $250,000, while multi-entity proposals may receive up to $500,000. Applications are evaluated primarily based on the potential impact of the proposed project within the applying municipality or region. Key evaluation factors include the scope of fiber infrastructure being added or upgraded, the number of municipal locations served, anticipated benefits such as cost savings or enhanced service delivery, and the project's financial sustainability. Grant awards will be announced following the close of the application period, and all awarded projects must be completed within 18 months of receiving the grant. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Sean Cronin, Senior Deputy Commissioner, at [email protected].