Through its involvement with Internet2 and the national research community, MAGPI is able to explore new developments in network and educational technologies that help member institutions to become more productive, and in some cases, reduce costs.

Community Connect Grant Program

Funding Agency: United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
Website: http://www.usda.gov/rus/telecom/commconnect.htm

The purpose of the Community Connect Grant Program is to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to eligible applicants that will provide currently unserved areas, on a "community-oriented connectivity" basis, with broadband transmission service that fosters economic growth and delivers enhanced educational, health care, and public safety services.  The Community Connect Grant Program stipulates that any recipient must provide a "Community Center with at least ten (10) Computer Access Points within the proposed Service Area, and make Broadband Transmission service available therein, free of all charges to users for at least 2 years."

Just over $13.4 million is available for grants.  The USDA RUS has set a minimum grant amount of $50,000 and a maximum grant amount of $1 million for FY 2009.  There is a 15% matching fund (cash or in-kind) requirement.  Though in past the RUS has featured a Community Connect Grant Program, Community Connect grants for FY 2009 cannot be renewed.

Strategic Technologies for Cyberinfrastructure (STCI)

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
Website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=500066

The primary purpose of the Strategic Technologies for Cyberinfrastructure Program (STCI) is to support work leading to the development and/or demonstration of innovative cyberinfrastructure services for science and engineering research and education that fill gaps left by more targeted funding opportunities.  In addition, it will consider highly innovative cyberinfrastructure education, outreach and training proposals that lie outside the scope of targeted solicitations.

The National Science Foundation provides a number of targeted funding opportunities for the development of cyberinfrastructure, for the provision of cyberinfrastructure services, and for related education, outreach and training.  However, cyberinfrastructure technology and training are broad continua.  It is anticipated that, at any given time, there will be ideas that do not map neatly onto the extant portfolio of cyberinfrastructure solicitations yet have a high potential impact on research and education.  Accordingly, the Strategic Technologies for Cyberinfrastructure program will accept proposals for cyberinfrastructure development, demonstration, education, outreach and training activities that are not aligned with the specific goals of other existing cyberinfrastructure funding opportunities and which have the potential to transform multiple areas of research or education.

Full proposals are due August 13, 2009.