KC Digital Inclusion Fund Showcase and Call for Applications

by | Aug 5, 2014 | Digital Skills Training

The Kansas City region is fast becoming a leader in next generation technology. Thanks to the availability of gigabit Internet speeds, folks like app developers, startup founders, healthcare providers, data centers and other tech players are thinking big.

But if those leading the charge don’t think inclusively, many in the community could get left behind.

Case in point: In a town where Google Fiber is connecting homes with unprecedented broadband speeds, 25% of Kansas Citians don’t have broadband Internet at home, and 17% don’t have Internet access at all.

That’s why the Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund was created. Its purpose is to support local organizations and projects that will do things like provide computer access, teach digital literacy skills necessary to succeed in an online world and, in general, bridge the digital divide in Kansas City.

This Thursday, August 7, 2014, at the Google Fiber Space, the first round of grantees of the Digital Inclusion Fund will report on their progress.

Featured presenters:

  • Connecting for Good – Digital Inclusion Support Program, $40,000
  • Kansas City Public Library District – Mobile Digital Media Lab for Youth, $98,400
  • Trinity Community Church – Digital Access KCK, $60,500
  • Hispanic Economic Development Council – Digital Life Skills Training for Low-Income Latinos, $77,770
  • ArtsTech – Digital Connectors Intergenerational Project, $35,000

To RSVP for the Grantee Showcase, visit the Fiber Space’s calendar and find the event on Thursday. More Funding on the Way

The Kansas City Digital Inclusion Fund is looking for applicants for its next round of funding. The deadline for submissions is September 26, 2014. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)3 public charities performing work in the Kansas City region. To learn more about the grant restrictions and requirements and how to submit your organization, visit the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation.

The fund is made possible by Google Fiber, Sprint Foundation, The Illig Family Foundation, Polsinelli, Global Prairie and JE Dunn.

Further Reading

Collaboration Keeps Place-Based Digital Literacy at LAMP Campus

In collaboration with PCs for People and Linwood Property Inc, KC Digital Drive is excited to be able to maintain the longstanding digital skills training at the LAMP Campus and bring in our train-the-trainer programming and ACP sign-up support services to this community.
We are excited to welcome Carol Meyers to our team to deliver monthly place-based training sessions, and to begin offering train-the-trainer programming and ACP Sign-up Support at the LAMP Campus at 1801 Linwood Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64109.

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KC Digital Drive Launches MO Goes Tech With $14,000 in Micro-grants

MO Goes Tech will identify seven (7) direct service organizations providing social, human, or economic services to rural populations in the state of Missouri that could benefit from an expanded digital access and literacy component to their existing client offerings.  Each awardee will receive a $2,000 microgrant that includes $1,000 for a stipend for a staff trainer and $1,000 is unrestricted funds to boost digital service capacity.

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KC COVID-19 Recovery Fund Opens RFP to Boost Digital Equity in the Region

The KC Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund invites 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.

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