BOSTON – The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s (MassTech) Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) is awarding $555,747 to nine municipalities as part of the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program. This funding will support a broad range of activities across each community, including expanding digital literacy instruction, digital education and access, digital navigation services, laptop and tablet distribution and public Wi-Fi networks.
The nine participating communities previously developed digital equity plans under the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program, a statewide initiative that connects municipalities with qualified consultants to determine access gaps and enact planning activities aimed at bridging the digital divide.
“Massachusetts is narrowing the digital divide by working with communities to deliver digital training and education services to residents statewide,” said Massachusetts Interim Economic Development Secretary Ashley Stolba. “The Municipal Implementation Program offers a road map to local leaders through a planning exercise and puts dollars on the table to implement the communities’ top priorities to close the digital divide.”
“The Municipal Implementation Program is helping cities and towns execute critical digital equity projects and expand access to digital services across the state,” said MBI Director Michael Baldino. “Our partners at the regional and local level have been instrumental in identifying how best to bring residents into the digital economy so they have the tools, knowledge and skills to thrive.”
Municipalities that applied to the Implementation Program were able to select one or more of these seven focus areas for implementation grant funding:
- Connectivity for Economic Hardship
- Device Distribution and Refurbishment
- Digital Literacy
- Education, Outreach, and Adoption
- Public Space Modernization
- Staff Capacity for Digital Equity
- Wi-Fi Access and Innovative Connectivity Technology
A total of 105 cities and towns across Massachusetts participated in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program and 28 are currently participating in the Municipal Digital Equity Implementation Program. Communities participating in the Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program may apply for a direct grant of up to $100,000 after completing the planning process.
A full list of the latest implementation grantees and summaries of their digital equity projects are listed below. PDF versions of each community’s plan are available on MBI’s website.
| Municipality | Award Amount | Description | Project Focus Areas |
Charlemont
| $46,828 | Charlemont will use funds to establish a digital technology training hub at the library; purchase devices for distribution to residents in need; and conduct outreach to residents about low-cost internet programs. | Public Space Modernization, Digital Literacy, Device Distribution, Education, Outreach and Adoption |
Clarksburg
| $64,677 | Clarksburg will use the funds to upgrade and expand public Wi-Fi at the community center and town park, purchase new devices and equipment for on-site use at the library, community center and school, offer a series of digital literacy lectures and develop materials to inform residents of available digital inclusion services. | Public Space Modernization, Digital Literacy, Education, Outreach and Adoption |
| Dalton | $56,598 | This award will fund digital literacy and new internet devices at various public locations (housing authority sites, library, senior center and youth centers). Dalton will use the funds to purchase computers/related equipment, provide stipends to youth digital navigators, contract external organizations to film digital literacy programs, facilitate train-the-trainer sessions and support procurement and program evaluations. The senior center will also distribute tablets to older adults. | Device Distribution, Digital Literacy, Public Space Modernization, Education, Outreach and Adoption |
| Lenox | $56,603 | Lenox will focus funds on public space improvements at the community center, library and town hall. This will include public Wi-Fi upgrades, new computers and other equipment to facilitate improved participation in public in-person and hybrid programs/events. | Public Space Modernization |
| North Andover | $60,000 | North Andover will use this grant to support the town’s largest device lending entity by purchasing up to 150 Chromebook devices for the local school district. | Device Distribution |
| Northfield | $85,260 | Northfield applied as the lead for a regional application with five other towns to expand the Cyber Seniors program at Greenfield Community College, which provides digital literacy and technology assistance to older adults in Franklin County. Separately, a portion of the grant will help the Northfield Library offer tech help, digital literacy sessions and devices to patrons. | Device Distribution and Digital Literacy |
| Orleans | $64,800 | Orleans will expand and map the availability of free public Wi-Fi, purchase laptops and hotspots for lending and support digital literacy initiatives through partnerships with local entities. | Device Distribution, Digital Literacy andPublic Space Modernization |
| Shutesbury | $55,979 | Shutesbury will use a portion of the funds to provide free long drops and one month of internet service to low-income residents not currently subscribed to the municipal network. The town will also upgrade public Wi-Fi and purchase additional devices for the library, pilot a tech support program and use remaining funds to cover a portion of the cost to upgrade routers for all ShutesburyNet subscribers. | Device Distribution, Digital Literacy, Public Space Modernization and Wi-Fi Access |
About the Massachusetts Broadband Institute at MassTech
A division of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) is working to extend high-speed internet access and availability across the state. To achieve this, MBI uses state and federal funding to launch infrastructure expansion programs that target areas of the state that lack high-speed internet access as well as digital equity programs that tackle barriers to internet adoption and increase availability, addressing critical issues around affordability, enhanced public Wi-Fi, the need for internet-enabled devices, and digital literacy training.
Learn more at https://broadband.masstech.org.
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