IE 11 Not Supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.

Pennsylvania Targets Digital Divide

More than $3 million in grants issued to improve Internet access in low-income and underserved areas of the commonwealth.

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development detailed plans to disburse more than $3.38 million in digital-divide grants to fund 13 projects across Pennsylvania.

"Computer literacy and Internet access are vital tools to all Pennsylvanians in today's information society," said Tim McNulty, acting secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development. "The Digital Divide grants are an important component of Pennsylvania's strategy to bridge that gap and make computer and Internet access available to all Pennsylvanians, both young and old."

Officials said the grants will help organizations throughout Pennsylvania provide access to technology for the families they serve. The grants are funded through Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), a federally funded program that uses money set aside by the Department of Public Welfare.

The Office of Technology Investment, within the Department of Community and Economic Development, administers the funds and provides the Digital Divide grants to organizations that bring digital technologies, including increasing high-speed Internet access and computer literacy skills to low-income Pennsylvania residents.

Eligible applicants include non-profit community and economic development organizations, including educational organizations that facilitate one or all of the following: high-speed Internet capabilities, increased computer access and technology skills training for low-income Pennsylvania residents.

Among the projects that received grants are:

Allegheny County
The Hill House Association, in Pittsburgh, was awarded a $400,000 grant to construct a Wide Area Network (WAN) to connect 20 community and faith-based organizations in the city's lower-income communities, to build a citywide coalition and to distribute surplus computer systems to 500 low-income families and organizations.

Cambria County
The Glendale School District, in Flinton, was awarded a $457,000 grant to establish the Glendale Area Information Network (GAIN) to extend high-speed, wireless, broadband Internet access from the school to the Coalport/Irvona areas in Clearfield County and provide the addition of three contiguous school districts. Through community support, GAIN will also provide 100 laptops to community members who participate in technology training and job skills assessment and training also will be available;

Lancaster County
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, in Lancaster, will receive a $100,000 grant to support the Lancaster Demonstration Project, which, in conjunction with other local agencies, will establish two computer-training centers within low-income communities in the county. The centers will allow the college to deliver academic content to students at home, to create a Web site for the delivery of information and assistance to residents, and to support the Citizens Corps Council efforts to recruit and train volunteers for local civic organizations.

Philadelphia County
The Nueva Esperanza, Philadelphia, a faith-based organization serving a predominantly Latino community, has been awarded a grant in the amount of $32,500 to provide for public broadband connectivity infrastructure. The connection will expand and enhance services to low-income area families for the delivery of online education, distance learning, computer training and job training and career placement.

The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in partnership with several community organizations, was awarded a $499,830 grant to support the Philadelphia Digital Inclusion CiteNet Project. The project aims to develop a customized Web site connecting low-income households to information and tools to help build assets and raise the user's standard of living, provide program-based technology training, strengthen existing community computer labs, and support self-directed learning through affordable home computer and Internet access;

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development