National Digital Inclusion Alliance is pleased to announce the final cohort of Innovation grantees from the New York Digital Inclusion Fund, in partnership with Schmidt Futures. The Fund supports innovative partnership models that address digital inclusion barriers with solutions across New York State.
“The New York Digital Inclusion Fund is designed to make an impact on whole communities and regions by supporting collaborative digital inclusion programs,” said Angela Siefer, executive director of NDIA. “We are proud to partner with Schmidt Futures and intend this work to serve as a model for others investing in digital equity.”
The five grantees of the Digital Inclusion Innovation Cohort are presented with innovation-supporting funding that ranges from $167,000 to $250,000 to further the implementation of their work advancing digital equity in their communities and regions over the next 12 and 24 months. The 2022 grant recipients are:
- Community Access, Inc. – New York City (Counties: Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan)
- Mission Ignite – Southern Tier, Western NY (Counties: Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Grand Island, West Seneca, Newstead, Elmira, Horseheads, Jamestown, Binghamton, Little Valley)
- OATS from AARP – North Country (County: Plattsburgh)
- Queens Public Library Foundation – New York City (County: Queens)
- The STEM Alliance – Long Island, Mid-Hudson (Counties: White Plains, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Greenburgh)
“The New York Digital Inclusion Fund has built on Schmidt Futures’ connectivity-related efforts through the Reimagine New York Commission and works in tandem with Governor Hochul’s $1B ConnectALL Initiative to increase connectivity and digital equity for New Yorkers,” said Elizabeth Young McNally, executive vice president at Schmidt Futures. “Schmidt Futures has provided $2.6M+ in funding to support 10 unique digital equity coalitions and 10 locally-driven partnership initiatives between community anchor organizations and organizations committed to digital inclusion across New York State. We are excited about the potential for this investment to create a more inclusive pathway to affordable internet, device ownership, and skills training for all.”
The New York Digital Inclusion Fund is managed by NDIA and supported by Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative founded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt. NDIA will provide grantees with guidance, training and technical support, best practices, and sharing lessons learned as they carry out their digital inclusion work.
For more information about these five grantee projects, please visit digitalinclusion.org/nydifund.