Bloomington Again Recognized as Digital Inclusion Trailblazer

The City of Bloomington has been recognized by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance as a 2023 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer.  First launched in 2016, Digital Inclusion Trailblazers is a public inventory of local government initiatives promoting digital literacy and broadband access for underserved residents.  The City was commended for its continuing efforts to bridge the digital divide, including conducting a scientific survey on broadband equity, developing a Digital Equity (DE) Strategic Plan, establishing a DE Grants Fund for nonprofit organizations, DE staffing, and efforts to make high speed broadband more available and affordable.

“The City is committed to creating digital equity by making digital access available to all in our community.” said Mayor John Hamilton. “I am proud of the strides our community has made towards this goal, and I appreciate the recognition.” 

This year, Bloomington joins a record number of Digital Inclusion Trailblazers, with 47 total awardees representing municipal, county, and regional governments paving the way for digitally inclusive communities across the US.

“Nonprofits, libraries, churches, and other community organizations can’t reach digital equity on their own. For everyone to thrive in today’s digital world, we need all hands on deck,” said Angela Siefer, NDIA executive director. “NDIA’s Digital Inclusion Trailblazers exemplify the key role local governments have in building connected communities for all of their residents.”

Trailblazers provide models for other local governments to aspire to as communities build digital inclusion ecosystems. Bloomington achieved Trailblazer status by prioritizing digital inclusion for residents of their communities through:

• First in the state DE Survey and Strategic Plan
• DE Grants Fund program to nonprofit community partners
• Investment in DE Staffing
• DE Plan with Meridiam to make broadband access ubiquitous across the city, which is among the best digital equity offerings around.

For more information about the City’s activities and investments to promote digital inclusion and equity, please visit the City’s Digital Equity website. 

“We are proud to be recognized once again as among the leading communities attending to digital equity,”  stated Rick Dietz, Information & Technology Services Department Director, “and 2024 looks to be a transformative year as we refresh our Digital Equity Survey and Digital Equity Strategic Plan, and work to bring Meridiam’s ground breaking high speed fiber network to even more residences.”

About NDIA 2023 Trailblazer Award

NDIA revised the seven-year-old Trailblazer program this year, identifying seven categories of current best practices. Each applicant’s materials are verified for accuracy, assessed for community impact, and posted in an interactive map and searchable database on NDIA’s website. By sharing materials with open-sourcing, NDIA provides community advocates and local governments ways to continue learning, connect with trailblazing peers, and plan their own digital inclusion solutions.

About National Digital Inclusion Alliance

NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with more than 1,500 digital inclusion practitioners, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.