Bloomington awards 13 digital equity grants
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In an effort to bridge the digital divide locally, the city of Bloomington has awarded 13 not-for-profits with grants to do just that.
In its fourth edition, the 2023 Digital Equity Grants program seeks to assist Bloomington-based organizations with a total of $50,000 to better support and provide resources to residents on issues like eviction prevention, digital literacy and affordable housing availability.
“With the Digital Equity Grant program, the city partners with nonprofits in our community who provide creative solutions to bridging the digital divide,” Mayor John Hamilton said in a news release. “Thanks to the hard work of these organizations, our community continues to move toward greater digital equity.”
The program is part of Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative, which looks to not just build back from the pandemic but also to improve the city’s racial, economic and climate equity. The grants stem from the city’s Information & Technology Services department’s annual budget.
The city is looking for proposals that address digital equity challenges through increasing access, educating and mitigating those gaps.
This year’s awardees are:
- Area 10 Agency on Aging – Creating Digital Literacy Opportunities and Tackling Social Isolation in the World of COVID: $6,100.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington – Bee Safe Online: $6,900.
- Community Justice and Mediation Center – Eviction Prevention Project: $2,900.
- Courage to Change Sober Living – Printers/Scanners/Supplies/Wi-fi Service for Courage to Change Sober Living Houses: $2,300.
- Middle Way House – The RISE! Computer Lab: $1,900.
- Monroe County Community School Corporation Adult Education – The Fabrication of Skills, Prosperity, and Connections: $,5900.
- Monroe County United Ministries – Your Path to Self-Sufficiency: Supporting Utilization & Institutionalization of Digital Resources: $3,000.
- Indiana Recovery Alliance – Digital Equity for Unhoused People and People Who Use Drugs to Access Health Care and Benefits: $4,100.
- New Leaf, New Life – Office Internet & Printer Access: $1,500.
- Pantry 279 – Technology for new Pantry 279 Building: $3,700.
- Sojourn House – Sojourn House Education Pathway: $3,100.
- Summit Hill Community Development Corporation – Affordable Housing Community Computer & Network Access: $5,900.
- Wheeler Mission – PC and Printing Availability Program: $2,700.
“This is the fourth year of the City’s Digital Equity Grants initiative, and we are grateful for the increasing interest from local organizations in applying for these grants,” said Rick Dietz, Information and Technology Services Director for the city. “The City’s 2020 Digital Equity Strategic Plan identified several areas of Digital Equity challenges, and we greatly appreciate being able to partner with so many great local organizations to meet these challenges head-on.”