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The City of Bloomington has awarded the 2023 Digital Equity Grants to support local nonprofit organizations in their efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents. This grant program was initiated four years ago as part of Mayor John Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative, which aims to promote racial, economic, and climate justice and help the city recover from the pandemic and economic collapse.

Thirteen area nonprofits were chosen as recipients of the grants this year, receiving a total of ,000. This is an increase from the eleven nonprofits that received grants in 2022. The grants were funded from the Information & Technology Services (ITS) Department’s regular annual budget.

The selected organizations and their respective programs and grant amounts are as follows:

– Area 10 Agency on Aging – Creating Digital Literacy Opportunities and Tackling Social Isolation in the World of COVID, ,100.
– Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington – Bee Safe Online, ,900.
– Community Justice and Mediation Center – Eviction Prevention Project, ,900.
– Courage to Change Sober Living – Printers/Scanners/Supplies/Wi-fi Service for Courage to Change Sober Living Houses, ,300.
– Middle Way House – The RISE! Computer Lab, ,900.
– Monroe County Community School Corporation Adult Education – The Fabrication of Skills, Prosperity, and Connections, ,900.
– Monroe County United Ministries – Your Path to Self-Sufficiency: Supporting Utilization & Institutionalization of Digital Resources, ,000.
– Indiana Recovery Alliance – Digital Equity for Unhoused People and People Who Use Drugs to Access Health Care and Benefits, ,100.
– New Leaf, New Life – Office Internet & Printer Access, ,500.
– Pantry 279 – Technology for new Pantry 279 Building, ,700.
– Sojourn House – Sojourn House Education Pathway, ,100.
– Summit Hill Community Development Corporation – Affordable Housing Community Computer & Network Access, ,900.
– Wheeler Mission – PC and Printing Availability Program, ,700.

The Digital Equity Grants program sought proposals from nonprofits that addressed digital equity challenges in the community. These challenges include facilitating access to broadband services, increasing access to computing devices, cultivating digital skills, and addressing gaps identified in the City’s digital equity strategic plan.

The City of Bloomington has been recognized as a Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance in both 2021 and 2022. The city has also collaborated with Hoosier Networks, LLC on a digital equity program to provide internet services to low-income households. In addition, the City has an ongoing high-speed fiber internet project in partnership with Hoosier Fiber Networks to ensure top-quality internet access for low-income and digitally-disadvantaged households.

The Digital Equity Grants and other initiatives are part of the broader Recover Forward initiative, which aims to support the community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and promote justice and equity in various aspects of life. The City Council has approved over million for critical investments in this initiative, with funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and City reserve funds.

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