At a Glance
Current Status:
Closed
Target Region:
US States: NC, GA, FL, VA, DC, SC, TX, AL, TN, KY, WV, DE, MD
Truist EPIC Grant
The COVID-19 pandemic brought the importance of broadband Internet connectivity into focus as work, school, healthcare, and more shifted online. Internet connectivity was more important than ever in keeping our lives moving.
The $1 million Expanding Potential in Communities (EPIC) Grant program supports broadband initiatives in the southeastern United States, funded by Truist Financial Corporation’s Truist Cares* initiative, a $50 million philanthropic pledge to help rebuild communities in the company’s markets affected by COVID-19. As the administrating partner, the Internet Society supported local broadband expansion by funding complementary Internet connectivity solutions to help alleviate disparities in education, employment, and social welfare that are exacerbated by lack of access to broadband.
The $1 million Truist EPIC Grant was distributed from April 2021 to August 2022 to twelve cooperative broadband projects in funds between $125,000 and $180,000.
Grant Recipients
Twelve grant proposals were selected to receive funds for their projects.
Non-profit organizations, local governments, municipalities, townships, public-private partnerships, and cooperative organizations were eligible to apply for the Truist EPIC Grant. The grant was geared towards networks that serve low-income communities with significant Black, Indigenous, and diverse populations. Grant funding could have been used to build a new network or expand an existing one.
The grants were awarded in two groups, the first in June 2021 and the second in August 2022.
* Truist Cares is a cooperative effort between Truist Financial Corporation, Truist Foundation, Inc., and Truist Charitable Fund to provide communities, organizations and individuals disaster relief and assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.