Bloomington Nonprofits Invited to Apply for 2023 Digital Equity Grants

Bloomington, Ind.–The City of Bloomington invites nonprofit organizations to apply for funding to support their efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents.  The Digital Equity Grants program will award $50,000 in funds to Bloomington-based nonprofits, with 2023 proposals accepted digitally Monday, May 8 through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 16 at bloomington.in.gov/digital-equity. 

The program, now in its fourth year, began as part of Mayor John Hamilton’s Recover Forward initiative to help Bloomington recover from the pandemic and economic collapse and advance racial, economic, and climate justice. Beginning in 2022, the award funds have become a regular part of the Information and Technology Services Department’s annual general fund budget. Since 2020, the City’s Digital Equity Grant Program has awarded more than $135,000 to local nonprofits. 

An informational meeting about the Digital Equity Grant application process will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 16, via Zoom and can be accessed using the link and information below:

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://bloomington.zoom.us/j/84964208295?pwd=Um5RS25PTFFsckJ3NEFHUFNDRUxvZz09

Meeting ID: 849 6420 8295

Passcode: 913021

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,84964208295# US (Chicago)

+16469313860,,84964208295# US

The Digital Equity Grants program is part of the City’s larger plan to improve digital equity in our community, address challenges, and pursue solutions identified in the City’s 2020 Digital Equity Strategic Plan, including in the following areas:

• Availability Gap: Address areas in the community where broadband is unavailable, competition is minimal, or bandwidth is inadequate.  
• Adoption Gap: Where available, overcome barriers to broadband adoption, including service affordability, usable devices, etc.
• Utilization Gap: Cultivate the knowledge, familiarity, and digital skills needed to secure the benefits of the internet and computers.
• Institutionalization: Support community and organizational capacity-building to ensure digital equity is a continuing focus of community development. 

The Digital Equity Grants program will accept proposals from nonprofits for projects that build capacity in the community to address digital equity challenges by:  

• Facilitating access to broadband service, especially affordable options
• Increasing access to computing devices to effectively use the internet
• Cultivating the knowledge, familiarity, and digital skills needed to secure the benefits of the internet and computers
• Improving skills needed to use the internet safely, securely, and confidently to engage in digital life
• Mitigating community digital equity gaps identified in the City's digital equity survey (https://bton.in/mE_-Q)
• Aligning with initiatives recommended in the city’s Digital Equity Strategic Plan (https://bton.in/-NQkR)

“We are seeing on-the-ground, real-time progress on our goal of serving every member of our community with the high-quality, high-speed fiber internet they need to live, work and learn in the 21st century,” said Mayor Hamilton. “A digital transformation of our city is underway.” 

The Digital Equity Grants awarded in 2022 (https://bton.in/-8Cq0) supported the following nine organizations and projects:  

• Alexandra’s Army, Internet Safety Training, $4,000
• Area 10 Agency on Aging, Creating Digital Literacy Opportunities and Tackling Social Isolation in the World of COVID, $6,000
• Artisan Alley, Wi-Fi Mill/Tech Education, $4,100
• Courage to Change Sober Living, Breaking Down Digital Divide Barriers for Those Suffering from Substance Use Disorders, $5,500
• Farmer House Museum/TechHeroes, Bloomington Stories, $4,000
• Hotels for Hope, Long Term Access to Technology and Skill Building for Those Experiencing Homelessness, $5,500
• Monroe County Public Library, Enhancing the Circulating iPad Collection at Monroe County Public Library, $3,800
• My Sister’s Closet, Providing 21st Century Life Skills Training with Up-to-Date Electronics, $5,700
• New Leaf New Life, Expanded Computer & Internet Access, $4,000
• Robin & Trisha’s House, Inc, Access to Skill Building Internet Services and Computing Devices for Individuals Currently Overcoming Homelessness, $3,300
• South Central Community Action Program, Digital Action Plan for Thriving Connections Families, $4,100

More information about the City’s efforts to increase digital equity, including answers to frequently asked questions about the Digital Equity Grant program, is available at bloomington.in.gov/digital-equity.  

City-Wide High-Speed Fiber Internet Project

In addition to the City’s Digital Equity Grant program, the City of Bloomington and Hoosier Fiber Networks continue to collaborate on one of the country’s most comprehensive, inclusive, and innovative public-private partnerships to help low-income and digitally disadvantaged households access top-quality internet service.   

Eligible low-income residents may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to receive at least a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mbps) plan at no cost to the user if ACP is applied. The City and Hoosier Fiber Networks will together provide the “drop” connection to qualifying households.

The City of Bloomington partnered with Meridiam/Hoosier Fiber Networks in 2021 to bring high-speed internet access to all of Bloomington. Learn more about the project at: bloomington.in.gov/news/2023/04/04/5572 

About Recover Forward

Recover Forward is a multi-year initiative to help our community rebound and thrive as we come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, moving toward greater racial, economic, and climate justice as we do so.

More than $15 million has been approved to date by the City Council for critical investments. Recover Forward Bloomington includes $9 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and $6 million from City reserve funds. Learn more at bloomington.in.gov/recoverforward.