The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is awarding 24 organizations with about $250 million to support digital skills and inclusion projects in 39 states.
The NTIA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The grants are aimed at digital skills training, workforce development, access to equipment for low or no cost, or construction of public computing centers, according to the press release. The funding originates with the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program, which is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Everyone in America should have a fair shot at participating in the modern digital economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson.
“But all too often those opportunities are out of reach for many among us. NTIA’s digital inclusion grant programs will change that through funding for devices, skills training, and more — so that seniors, veterans and others can fully participate online.”
The NTIA digital inclusion awards include:
- Ameelio, Inc. ($10.7 million recommended award for projects in Idaho and Utah)
- Atlanta Beltline ($9 million, Georgia)
- Bristol Bay Native Association ($7.9 million, Alaska)
- California Emerging Technology Fund ($11.9 million, California)
- Capital Workforce Partners ($11.9 million, Connecticut)
- Bloomington ($11.4 million, Indiana)
- Philadelphia ($11.9 million, Pennsylvania)
- South Bend ($11.9 million, Indiana)
- St. Petersburg ($6.9 million, Florida)
- Clark County Parent ($10.7 million, Nevada)
- Commonwealth of Virginia State Board of Education ($10.5 million, Virginia)
- Delaware State University ($12 million, Delaware)
- Denton Independent School District ($9 million, Texas)
- Goodwill Industries International ($11.9 million, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York)
- Hmong American Partnership ($7.3 million, California and Minnesota)
- International Rescue Committee ($8.4 million, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington)
- Minnesota State Colleges & Universities ($7.3 million, Minnesota)
- Montezuma County Mancos School District Re 6 ($1.3 million, Colorado)
- National Black Tech Ecosystem Association ($11.9 million, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
- National Digital Inclusion Alliance ($25.7 million, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington)
- National Lead for America ($12 million, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia)
- Niagara University ($9.1 million, New York)
- Regents of the University Of Idaho ($13.1 million, Idaho)
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences ($10.7 million, Arkansas)
In September, 2023, Angela Thi Bennett, the NTIA’s first director of digital equity, told Telecompetitor that broadband availability and inclusion requires a “whole of nation” approach including federal and state partners, philanthropy organizations, and the private sector.
