Mayor Scott Announces $1.8 Million to Close Digital Divide with Second Round of Grant Awards to Baltimore-Based Organizations
Tuesday Oct 8th, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Second Round of Grants Through the Digital Equity Fund Supports Digital Education, Skill-Building, and Access to Creative Careers in Low-Digital Inclusion Communities
BALTIMORE, MD (October 8, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott, along with the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity—a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology—awarded $1.8 million in grants through the City’s Digital Equity Fund to 10 Baltimore-based organizations, furthering efforts to close the City’s digital divide.
“By continuing to invest in local organizations through the Digital Equity Fund, we are taking concrete steps to close Baltimore's digital divide and ensure every resident has access to the tools and resources needed to thrive in the digital age. Together, we are addressing one of the biggest civil rights issues of our lifetimes and building a more connected and equitable Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
The second round of the Digital Equity Fund, which is supported by a grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, focuses on partnering with organizations to provide digital literacy education, advance digital skills and IT training, and support programs for digital creatives. Grantees were selected based on their innovative and scalable approaches to delivering these programs to a wide range of communities, particularly those often left behind in the digital age, such as older adults, people with disabilities, immigrants, non-English speakers, returning citizens, individuals experiencing homelessness, and LGBTQIA+ youth.
The 10 grantees from the second round of the Digital Equity Fund are (listed by grant type):
Digital Literacy Education Training
Supports initiatives providing digital literacy education to older adults and the wider community.
| Organization | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| A Prosperous Tomorrow | $200,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | $200,000 |
| Let’s Thrive Baltimore Inc. | $185,000 |
| Pass IT On | $200,000 |
Advanced Digital Education and IT Fundamentals Programming
Supports initiatives providing IT fundamental skills training and certification to Baltimore City residents interested in a career in IT.
| Organization | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| Baltimore City Youth Architectural Design Collaborative | $40,000 |
| Code in the Schools | $200,000 |
| Dent Education and the Tech Lab at Digital Harbor Foundation | $200,000 |
| NPower Inc. | $200,000 |
Digital Creatives and Virtual Makerspaces Programming
Supports initiatives providing education and programming for digital creatives and virtual makerspaces at local recreation centers throughout Baltimore City.
| Organization | Grant Amount |
|---|---|
| LET’S GO Boys and Girls | $200,000 |
| Open Works, Inc. | $200,000 |
“The second round of the Digital Equity Fund builds on the City’s progress in breaking down barriers to digital access. I’m excited to see how these selected organizations, with their innovative and scalable approaches, will further empower our communities—particularly those too often left behind—with the essential digital skills and resources they need to succeed in today’s world,” said Todd Carter, Chief Information Officer for the City of Baltimore.
For more information about the Digital Equity Fund and the grant recipients, contact the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity: Email: bde@batlimorecity.org | Phone: (443) 984-9740.
About the Digital Equity Fund
Launched in April 2023, the Digital Equity Fund supports the creation of community-led digital inclusion plans and provides funding for communities to implement those plans. The fund was initially seeded with $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, with a total commitment of $5 million. In its inaugural year, 22 Baltimore-based organizations were awarded grants totaling nearly $1 million. The Baltimore Civic Fund serves as the fiscal administrator of grant funds, with the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs providing additional oversight of programs funded using ARPA dollars.
About the Office of Broadband and Digital Equity
The Office of Broadband and Digital Equity (BDE), a division of the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology, leads the City’s efforts to close the digital divide permanently and serves as Baltimore City government's primary liaison with internal and external stakeholders in digital equity. BDE envisions Baltimore as a city where residents can fully participate in the digital ecosystem and have access to devices, technical assistance, digital education, and affordable and reliable internet in the home. For more information about the city’s BDE programs and initiatives, sign up for BDE’s bi-monthly update, email bde@baltimorecity.gov, or call (443) 984-9740.
About the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided $641 million to the City of Baltimore in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency and its negative economic impacts. Mayor Brandon M. Scott has established the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs to transparently and effectively administer this funding on behalf of the City. For additional information, visit the Mayor’s Office of Recovery Programs website at arp.baltimorecity.gov.
About the Baltimore Civic Fund
An independent 501c3 organization serving as the fiscal sponsor for the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore Civic Fund is proud to be the financial backbone for public-private partnerships between innovative city programs and the philanthropic community. In this role, the Civic Fund manages $20 million annually for more than 100 city programs that promote business and economic development, education, culture and the creative economy, job growth, and more. Working alongside the mayor of Baltimore and city leadership, the Civic Fund helps realize a vision of an inclusive city where all Baltimore residents prosper.