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T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million\, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow. Hometown Grants are given every quarter to up to 25 small towns. Apply for funding to support a community project of your choice\, like revitalizing or repurposing a historic structure\, creating a downtown asset or destination\, or improving a space where friends and neighbors gather. Projects that add to a sense of place or could lead to further investment are of particular interest. We look forward to learning more about your town and your project. \;
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\nHOW TO APPLY
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\nReview the eligibility and grant criteria below to ensure your community and proposed project meets application requirements. Applicants can submit their proposals by completing this application form. \;The grant application period will close on Monday\, June 30\, 2025 at 11:59pm Central Time. \;No late applications will be accepted. Applications will be evaluated and selected by a review panel\, and all applicants will be sent an award decision by late August 2025.
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\nGrant recipients will each receive an award of up to $50\,000 to implement their ideas and will have 12 months (September 1\, 2025 - August 31\, 2026) to complete their projects. Recipients will be required to submit a progress report at the 6-month mark following the grant disbursement\, and a final report will be due at the end of the 12-month implementation period. All reports are to be completed using a template provided.
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REVIEW CRITERIA
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Your application will be reviewed by an internal T-Mobile review committee and non-profit partner based upon the following criteria. Please note that the letters of support for your project are an important part of this application. \;
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\n - Community need - \;Proposed project should fill a demonstrated need in the community. This grant funding is intended for shovel-ready projects that would not otherwise be possible to implement through municipal funding. Proposal &\; letters of support should demonstrate strong community support for the project. \;
\n - Community impact \;- Project should connect the community in meaningful\, innovative\, and creative ways. \;
\n - Partners and engagement - \;Strong applications actively involve local organizations by incorporating them into the planning and execution processes and engaging the community in activating the project site. Letters of support should come from a variety of stakeholders within the community. \;
\n - Feasibility - \;You should have a shovel-ready plan ready to go and be able to complete your project within your detailed budget and within 12 months of receiving funding\, if selected. \;Projects \;must \;be completed \;and \;usable by the public by August 31\, 2026. \;Make sure to consider these parameters when choosing the kind of project you propose for this grant. \;
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Alignment with T-Mobile'\;s small town strategy - \;T-Mobile strives to be a force for good. To read more about T-Mobile&rsquo\;s many corporate initiatives and key segments\, visit \;https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility. \;
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\nELIGIBILITY
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Who may apply? \;
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\n - This grant program is specifically open to 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and local government entities. \;If selected\, the grant award must be managed and deployed by the nonprofit organization or government entity who applied for the grant. \;
\n - Grant funds may \;not \;be awarded to for-profit businesses\, directly or indirectly via pass-through funding to for-profit businesses. Additionally\, religious congregations are\; \;not \;eligible for this grant program. \;
\n - Applicants must be located in small rural communities with a population of 50\,000 people or less. \;\; \;
\n - Proposals must focus on a physical project benefiting the public. \;
\n - The applicant organization must own the site where the proposed project would be implemented OR provide a description/confirmation of adequate permissions to alter the site. If the applicant organization does not own the site\, one of the letters of support must come from the owner of the site. \;
\n - Applicants may submit up to one (1) application per organization per grant cycle. Applicants may re-apply to subsequent grant cycles if they are not selected in an earlier round. \;
\n - Previous T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees are eligible to apply again for later grant cycles. Previous T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program grantees must demonstrate successful completion of their prior grant project in their application. \;
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\nWhat types of grant expenses are eligible?
\n \;Requested funding must be for a physical placemaking project.
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\nEligible Grant Uses: \;
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\n - Construction/\;installation supplies and materials \;
\n - Equipment \;
\n - Labor costs for construction/\;rehabilitation/\;installation/\;artist fees \;
\n - Artist&rsquo\;s supplies and fees associated with a community engagement design process (i.e. a mural or creative crosswalk informed by facilitated community discussions) \;
\n - Streetscape and/or indoor furniture for a community space \;
\n - Other physical items \;
\n - Special events or public space activation programming can only account for up to 10% or $5\,000 of total grant amount. \;
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Ineligible Grant Uses: \;
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\n - Engineering and architectural plans or fees \;
\n - Staff salaries (beyond initial construction/\;rehabilitation/\;installation labor) \;
\n - Operational and maintenance expenses \;
\n - Reimbursement for projects that are already completed \;
\n - Pass-through funding to private entities or initiatives
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TIMELINE
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\n - Applications Open on April 1\, 2025 \;
\n - Applications Close on Monday\, June 30\, 2025\, at 11:59 p.m. CT \;
\n - Grant Recipients Notified by late August 2025 \;
\n - Grant Funds Disbursed to Selected Recipients by September 1\, 2025 \;
\n - Project Implementation Period: September 1\, 2025 &ndash\; August 31\, 2026 \;
\n - Final Grant Reports Due September 11\, 2026
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