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

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.

Read More

Expanding Digital Literacy Programs in the Region: A Recap of February’s Digital Inclusion Learning Circle Meeting

The goal of the Digital Inclusion Learning Circle is to provide a space for digital skills trainers to share their knowledge and expertise, get tips to improve their programs and services and brainstorm new ideas. The February Digital Inclusion Learning Circle featured presentations from Pam Rooks, Refugee Digital Access Specialist with Catholic Charities of Northeast […]

Read More

Showing the love for digital inclusion

Another Net Inclusion is in the books, with this year’s conference held in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, aligning perfectly with it overlapping with Valentine’s Day. The event, hosted by NDIA, featured three days of learning with topics ranging from digital inclusion essentials to AI and dozens of panelists from across the country.   Sessions […]

Read More