Regional Nonprofits Focus on Connecting Individuals to Affordable Broadband and Devices

The KC Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund recently awarded approximately $800,000 to organizations in the metro area to address internet access, devices and training. The Mid-America Regional Council acted as an agent on behalf of its Advisory Board to facilitate the application and fund disbursement through the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. 

Grantees from the 9-county region include: 

  1. aSTEAM Village
  2. Catholic Charities of NE Kansas
  3. ECKAN – East Central KS Economic Opportunity Corp. 
  4. El Centro
  5. Essential Families
  6. Front Porch Alliance
  7. Goodwill of Western MO & Eastern KS 
  8. Groundwork NRG
  9. Guadalupe Centers
  10. Hispanic Economic Development Corp.
  11. JCCC – Adult Education
  12. Jewish Vocational Service
  13. Kansas City, KS Public Library
  14. KC Digital Drive*
  15. Kansas City Public Library
  16. Kearney Enrichment Council
  17. Latinx Education Collaborative
  18. Mattie Rhodes
  19. Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry
  20. My Father’s House Community Services
  21. Northland Shepherd’s Center
  22. Osawatomie Public Library
  23. Parkville Living Center
  24. PCs for People
  25. The Toolbox
  26. Urban TEC

*KC Digital Drive received a grant of $40,000 to be used as matching funds for its regional FCC-funded Mid-America ACP Outreach Campaign, allocating the match to over $150,000 designated to fund local outreach partners for conducting specific ACP awareness and enrollment assistance activities over the campaign’s 12-month term. Along with expansion of the KC Goes Tech program, these funds will provide direct support and capacity building to at least 25 more additional organizations.

Further Reading

Digital Inclusion Fund Relaunches with Open Call for Applications

The KC Digital Inclusion Fund is a charitable fund led by KC Digital Drive and administered at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation with an Advisory Council. In 2024, the Fund will award up to $250,000 across three grant areas: 1) Devices, 2) I.T. Support, and 3) New Courses. For more information or to apply, visit kcdig.org.

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KC Reentry Organizations Offer Digital Inclusion Support to Returning Citizens

The following is a recap of a presentation by Jill Hanli, Journey to New Life Case Manager and Outreach Coordinator, Susie Roling, Journey to New Life Associate Director, Alexis Williams, 12th Street Heritage Director of Operations, and Tanesha Whitelaw, KU Center for Digital Inclusion Digital Navigator given to the Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion […]

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Assistive Technology will “Power Up” Computer Access

KC Digital Drive’s team member Leah Henriksen volunteered for the Missouri Assistive Technology’s Power Up conference, learning about assistive devices to share with the KC metro community. KC Digital Drive intends to partner with MO Assistive Tech to provide access to computers and other digital devices for individuals with disabilities.

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