Kansas City Program Empowers Kansas Families with Hundreds of Devices
> 575 households in four counties will receive digital devices and support, helping families thrive in today’s digital world and enhancing connectivity for many.
KANSAS CITY, KS — KC Digital Drive, along with its community partners, will distribute 575 devices to underserved households in Wyandotte, Johnson, Leavenworth, and Miami counties in Kansas. This initiative is supported by $860,500 in grant funding from the Kansas Office of Broadband Development’s ADOPT 2.0 Equipment Distribution Program. In addition, support from the Kauffman Foundation and KC Digital Drive brings the total resources dedicated to promoting digital equity to more than $960,000.
The Kansas Digital Life Exchange (KS DLX ) is an expansion of the Digital Life Exchange (DLX), a regional consortium launched by KC Digital Drive in 2024. This initiative aims to enhance access to technology, internet connectivity, and digital skills. In this new Kansas-focused project, partners such as The Toolbox, Latinx Education Collaborative, Workforce Partnership, El Centro, and Phoenix Family will work together to deliver devices and training to low-income families, Hispanic entrepreneurs, job seekers, English language learners, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.
“Our partners are the experts in knowing what the community needs and how best to fulfill those needs,” said Leslie Scott, Digital Inclusion Program Manager at KC Digital Drive. “They are the essential link in helping us reach people in the community who can’t afford to buy a computer on their own. Their involvement is integral to the success of this initiative.”
The program will distribute 375 devices directly through its core partner network, while an additional 200 devices will be held in reserve to meet emerging needs based on referrals from other Kansas-based DLX members. This flexible relationship-driven model ensures that devices reach those who need them most, particularly individuals whose lack of access to technology hinders their ability to secure employment, access education, receive healthcare, and participate in civic activities. This adaptability is a crucial factor in the program’s effectiveness.
ADOPT (Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology) is a state grant program that utilizes federal Capital Projects Fund dollars to foster digital equity in economically distressed areas. KS DLX exemplifies this mission by integrating technology access into trusted community channels, enabling sustainable and inclusive digital participation.
“This initiative is about more than giving someone a laptop. It’s about empowering families, building digital confidence, and creating long-term pathways to opportunity,” Scott said.
About KC Digital Drive
KC Digital Drive is the regional civic organization driving inclusive digital transformation in the Kansas City metro. Founded by the cities of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas, it strengthens ecosystems for digital equity and innovation—connecting communities to technology, skills, and opportunity to ensure everyone can thrive in a digitally powered economy. kcdigitaldrive.org
About ADOPT 2.0
Advancing Digital Opportunities to Promote Technology (ADOPT 2.0) is a grant program of the Kansas Office of Broadband Development, funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund. ADOPT 2.0 supports the distribution of digital devices and public Wi-Fi to economically distressed communities across Kansas, helping to close the digital divide and expand access to essential online services. [Read more]