Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans
(PINON) Grant

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The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) will award more than $7 million dollars to eligible New Mexico entities through the Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans (PINON) Grant. 

GRANT At-A-Glance

OBAE’s Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans (PINON) Grant:
The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) is pleased to announce the Promoting Internet Needs of New Mexicans (PINON) Grant, an initiative designed to bridge the digital divide.

The PINON Grant will offer monetary awards ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 to support subgrantees in enhancing their digital equity programs tailored for populations that are particularly vulnerable to digital exclusion. 

Eligible programs must support the implementation of New Mexico’s Digital Equity Plan and assist the state in achieving its measurable objectives.

Subgrantees are required to engage individuals from one or more of the eight covered populations identified in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 - households with incomes below 150% of the poverty level, seniors, incarcerated individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, those facing language barriers, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, and residents of rural areas. 

Eligible activities under this grant may include digital skills activities, digital navigator activities, device distribution activities, technical support, and capacity-building.

Furthermore, eligible programs and activities must address one or more of the following impact areas, key barriers, and measurable objectives.  

NTIA Outcomes/ Areas of Impact: 
  • Economic and Workforce Development 
  • Education 
  • Health 
  • Civic and Social Engagement 
  • Delivery of Other Essential Services 

NTIA Key Barriers: 
  • Online Accessibility and Inclusivity 
  • Digital Literacy 
  • Online Privacy and Cybersecurity 
  • Device Availability and Affordability 

New Mexico Digital Equity Plan Barriers: 
  • Low-income households struggle to afford broadband services, devices, and technical support
    (Device Access and Tech Support)   
  • Individuals who are members of covered populations require support to develop digital literacy
    (Digital Literacy & Cybersecurity)   
  • Local communities require resources and expertise for digital equity efforts
    (Local Support & Online Accessibility)  

 New Mexico Digital Equity Plan Measurable Objectives 5 through 9: 
  • Increase the number of New Mexicans, including members of covered populations, who have access to a workable computing device and technical support.   
  • Increase the number of New Mexicans, including members of covered populations, who can use the internet if they so choose.   
  • Increase the number of New Mexicans, including members of covered populations, who can access information or training to learn how to protect their security and privacy online.  
  • Increase the number of New Mexicans, including members of covered populations, who can access government and essential services online.  
  • Increase the number of Tribal and local communities and organizations that have the resources and expertise to support and implement digital equity effort. 

Eligible Organizations - Who may apply?
Organizations located and working in the state of New Mexico are eligible to apply including:
  • Municipal, county, and regional governments 
  • Tribal governments and Tribal-led entities
  • Community-based organizations, non-profits, and foundations
  • Higher education institutions
  • State agencies and institutions

To apply for this grant, the organization or their fiscal agent must obtain a non-proprietary Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number from the federal System of Award Management (SAM). The UEI is a requirement for grantees receiving federal funds. Obtaining a UEI is free but can take a week to several months if your UEI is not already in the SAM system. Please see the SAM website for more information: https://sam.gov/content/home. 

Awards - What kind of funding is available?
Eligible organizations are invited to submit applications ranging from $25,000 to $500,000.
OBAE plans to award more than $7.3 million through the Pinon Grant.

Timeframe - What is the Period of Performance?
Designated awardees must enter into a Grant Agreement with OBAE to receive funding; awardees will have 1 to 3 years to complete programming and expend grant funding.

Anticipated Timeline:
Release of materials, webinars, and office hours will be provided during the grant application submission window.
The anticipated timeline is below:
Resources:
View the introductory Slide Deck and NTIA Specific Projects Resource Form 
from the Digital Equity Working Group Meeting 12/12/2024

Notice of Funding Opportunity:
Click here to access the PINON Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Draft 
Click here to access the 2025_01116_PINON Application Questions Draft
Click here to download the 2025_0116_PINON Grant Scoring Criteria Draft

OBAE Contact:
Neala Krueger, OBAE Digital Equity Coordinator
[email protected] 
505-538-0929
For ongoing updates, please visit https://connect.nm.gov/digital-equity.
NOFO and Resources
Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO):
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) formally establishes the funding availability for the OBAE Pinon Grant. The NOFO will set forth the purpose, eligible organizations, program activities, allowable expenditures, performance requirements, reporting requirements, evaluation criteria, and post-award compliance requirements.  
Click here to download the PINON Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Draft 

Application:
The Application comprises of several questions and information requests. The Application must be fully completed. Otherwise, the Application will be determined incomplete and will not be accepted for review and consideration.
Click here to download the 2025_01116_PINON Application Questions Draft
Click here to download the 2025_0116_PINON Grant Scoring Criteria Draft

​All applications must be submitted through the online portal.
The application portal will close at noon on March 21, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions:
​Submit your questions about this program and application here: [email protected]
Templates
Templates:
​Please use recommended templates identified in the NOFO when preparing your application.
Webinars
Webinars​:
OFFICE HOURS
Office Hours Online: ​
  • Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 2-3pm LINK
  • Tuesday, February 11, 2025, from 10-11am LINK
    ​    Additional office hours may be scheduled as needed.
Reporting
Reporting:
​Award recipients will need to comply with all NTIA guidelines, state laws and grant reporting requirements as outlined by the State of New Mexico.
Key Definitions
Key Definitions:
  • Digital Equity: The term “digital equity” means the condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity that is needed for full participation in the society and economy of the United States.
  • Digital Inclusion: The term “digital inclusion” means the activities that are necessary to ensure that all individuals in the United States have access to, and the use of, affordable information and communication technologies, such as--
    • Reliable fixed and wireless broadband internet service;
    • Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user; and
    • Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration.
    • This includes:
      • Obtaining access to digital literacy training:
      • The provision of quality technical support; and
      • Obtaining basic awareness of measures to ensure online privacy and cybersecurity.
  • Digital Literacy: The term “digital literacy” means the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information.
  • Covered Populations: The term “Covered Populations” means:
    • Individuals who live in covered households;
    • Aging individuals;
    • Incarcerated individuals (as defined by the State or Territory), other than individuals who are incarcerated in a federal correctional facility;
    • Veterans;
    • Individuals with disabilities;
    • Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group;
    • Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area; and
    • Individuals with a language barrier, including individuals who are English learners and/or have low levels of literacy.
  • Aging Individual: The term “aging individual” means an individual who is 60 years of age or older.
  • Community Anchor Institution: The term “community anchor institution” means a public school, a public or multi-family housing authority, a library, a medical or healthcare provider, a community college or other institution of higher education, a State or Territory library agency, and any other nonprofit or governmental community support organization.
  • Covered Household: The term “covered household” means a household in which the income for the most recently completed year is not more than 150 percent of an amount equal to the poverty level, as determined by using criteria of poverty established by the Bureau of the Census.
  • Individuals with disabilities: The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual, (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment.
  • A local educational agency: Generally, a local educational agency means a public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within a state for either administrative control or direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary schools or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a State, or for a combination of school districts or counties as are recognized in a State as an administrative agency for its public elementary schools or secondary schools.
  • Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area: The term “rural area” means any area other than (a) a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; (b) any urbanized area contiguous and adjacent to a city or town that has a population of greater than 50,000 inhabitants; and (c) in the case of a grant, a city, town, or incorporated area that has a population of greater than 20,000 inhabitants.
  • Veterans: The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.​
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