Community Fund Grants $800K to Orgs To Improve Digital Inclusion

by | May 23, 2023 | Digital Inclusion

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

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The Kansas City Coalition for Digital Inclusion (KCCDI) gathered for its May 2025 meeting with a focus on how digital access impacts the delivery of essential services. Speakers from the University of Missouri Extension, the City of Kansas City and LINC shared real-world examples of how digital barriers affect residents, and how local efforts are helping bridge the gap.

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KC Digital Drive created three short videos showcasing the Missouri Assistive Technology Demo Site at the LAMP Campus. These videos highlight adaptive tools like specialized keyboards, mice, and communication devices. The goal is to raise awareness and encourage community members to explore assistive tech for community partner’s staff and clients to promote accessibility.

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