MA: Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $20 Million to Boost Digital Equity
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $20 Million to Boost Digital Equity | MBI Skip to main content Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards $20 Million to Boost Digital Equity Five State-Funded Projects Aim to Grow Access to Training, Devices, and Digital Education December 05, 2023 Source: Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech (MBI) WESTBOROUGH, Mass. – Today, the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) at MassTech announced $20 million in new grants through the state’s Digital Equity Partnerships Program , which supports high-impact and scalable initiatives that reach residents most affected by the digital divide. The grants will fund a range of services, including regional networks of digital navigators who will train individuals in digital literacy, device refurbishment and distribution, neighborhood-scale broadband connectivity, digital education for workforce development, telehealth resource navigation, and a statewide effort to provide free WiFi in affordable housing and public housing developments. “The Digital Equity Partnerships Program supports organizations across Massachusetts that help residents build their digital skills and get online so they can participate fully in our state economy, access modern health services, get connected to loved ones, and so much more,” said Massachusetts Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao . “We are excited to announce today’s grants through the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, which will help make technology more accessible for everyone across the state.” The grant recipients include: AgeSpan , which will receive $3 million The Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers , which will receive $3.75 million The Metropolitan Area Planning Council , which will receive $5.6 million The Metro North Workforce Investment Board , which will receive $4.1 million UMass Lowell , which will receive $4.0 million “These monumental grants ensure that thousands of residents in communities across the state will have the tools and training they need,” said MBI Director Michael Baldino . “The digital divide is narrowing, and that is due to our strategic efforts to expand infrastructure and boost access. When high-speed internet is available in a Massachusetts neighborhood, these programs ensure that residents in that neighborhood can take advantage of everything the digital economy has to offer.” "UMass Lowell is proud to partner with the Healey-Driscoll administration and Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech to achieve internet access for every Massachusetts community. Digital equity, like higher education, goes hand in hand with empowering an informed workforce and building a strong economy. This grant not only affords our faculty an opportunity to effect positive change in fellow Gateway Cities, but builds on the university’s guarantee of career-connected experiences. UMass Lowell students will be at the forefront of this project int
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