Arkansas nonprofits El Centro Hispano of Jonesboro and Life Skills for Youth of Little Rock have been awarded more than $3 million in federal funding to expand digital access and literacy programs in Arkansas.
The funds were recommended by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and awarded through the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.
El Centro Hispano serves Spanish-speaking communities across 10 Arkansas counties. “We are grateful for partners like The Connection Hub who believe in our vision and support our efforts to provide vital digital resources for underserved populations,” Gina Gomez, executive director of the nonprofit, said in a statement. “Hispanic and immigrant communities rely on our organization to connect them to educational and health services in Spanish. This project will offer digital literacy and device distribution to close the gap that often divides our community from quality resources.”
The grants are receiving a portion of more than $250 million awarded to support digital skills and inclusion projects across the country. Funds are aimed to providing resources for professional development, hotspot distribution, and tailored community services.
Both Arkansas organizations will match the federal funding with support pledged by private philanthropy.
The grants were obtained through a partnership with The Connection Hub, a two-year pilot program by The Walton Family Foundation that provides free technical assistance to nonprofits. The Connection Hub specifically seeks to identify organizations working in early childhood health and education, food insecurity, and individual/family economic stability and asset-building.
“Access to technology and digital skills is essential for personal and community growth,” Coach Clark, executive director of Life Skills for Youth, said in a statement. “With this support, we can provide the resources and training our community needs to succeed.”
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