The Mid-America Regional Council announced on February 1, 2023 that the Advisory Board for the KC Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has an open call for community non-profit organizations and libraries to submit requests for funding to help area adult residents and households enroll in the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), obtain computer devices to make use of the internet in homes, and gain skills through training and technical assistance. 

What you need to know: 

  • Apply for funds here. Applications must be completed online 
  • Download a PDF of the application questions here
  • Read the Digital Equity Funding Opportunity here
  • Maximum grant request is $50,000 
  • Deadline to submit requests is February 28, 2023 at 5 pm CST 

Applicants may apply for one project category or for more than one category as long as the total request does not exceed the $50,000 maximum.

The Advisory Board is particularly interested in serving adults and households in geographic areas where needs, but few resources, exist; and those adults and households challenged with the greatest needs to secure services, such as (but not limited to) those with limited English proficiency, unemployed, disabled, or older adults. The Fund is intended to serve needs in the 9-county Kansas City region, including Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri and Johnson, Leavenworth, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.

The Advisory Board encourages organizations to collaborate in serving the region’s residents with digital services during 2023. The Advisory Board hopes to support organizations and services that could be further strengthened and expanded once federal broadband/digital equity dollars are available later this year or in 2024 through the two states.

Questions should be directed to Marlene Nagel at mnagel@marc.org

Further Reading

Digital Inclusion Fund Awards $75,000 for Devices in the Greater Kansas City Area

The Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund announces the 2024 Devices Grants cycle list of grant awardees. The KC Digital Inclusion Fund supports 501(c)(3) entities that focus on digital inclusion access, affordability and adoption to increase participation in digital society for Kansas City’s most underserved and/or disconnected residents. Initial funding support is from the Health Forward Foundation, Kauffman Foundation, Kansas Health Foundation and GFiber (Google Fiber).

Read More

New ACC AmeriCorps Member Joins Team

Welcome, Gus Livers! He joins KC Digital Drive as an American Connection Corps (ACC) AmeriCorps member, serving in the 2024-2025 service year, thanks to the generous financial support from Comcast. Gus will serve as the Digital Inclusion Coordinator, and with his previous experience in internet services and streaming from Marksman Solutions, and event management at […]

Read More

Digital Inclusion Week 2024

What is Digital Inclusion Week? Digital Inclusion Week (DIW) is an annual week of awareness, recognition and celebration. With support from NDIA, organizations and individuals across the country host special events, run social media campaigns, and share their digital inclusion actions and progress with media, among other actions.  We’re living in a pivotal time for […]

Read More