Angela Siefer

NDIA Recommended for NTIA Grant to Expand Digital Navigator Program

NDIA celebrates all the organizations recommended for a Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant award today. This is an incredible moment for the United States – strengthening our global competitiveness by investing in the digital readiness of our people. All the prospective awardees, including NDIA’s 13 sub-grantees, are trusted institutions and experts at increasing reliable access to the internet and devices while providing digital skills training and support. 

NDIA’s proposal “Digital Navigator+ (DN+) Program” expands upon the digital navigator model,  equipping 13 local Digital Navigator programs in 11 states to scale their existing programs, sustain their work beyond the life of the grant, and serve over 30,000 people. Through this grant, NDIA will support the 13 DN+ Sites as they tailor their services to the community’s needs. For instance, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Kuskokwim Consortium Library will provide technology access and skills training for more individuals to access public assistance, job prep, educational opportunities, research assistance, resources that combat food insecurity, and literacy resources while also providing the capacity to serve individuals through partner organizations. Community Service Programs of West Alabama, Inc. will provide rural Alabamans with much-needed technology skills to address unemployment, improve financial capability, prepare for disasters, and reduce social isolation. 

NDIA is honored to partner with the 13 DN+ Sites:

In addition to the core DN+ Program, NDIA will lead 10 innovations to support these organizations and the digital inclusion field:

  1. Sustainable Device Ecosystem Project – This project will equip subgrantees to develop sustainable device strategies, providing training, technical assistance, and one-on-one assistance in connecting to local computer refurbishers and identifying alternatives when needed. 
  2. DN+ Data Management System Project –  NDIA will provide Sites with a data and evaluation model, a data platform to collect the data, and training and ongoing technical assistance in using the data platform. We will also make the data platform and guidance publicly available and develop digital inclusion standards, including standardized data collection fields, methods, and metadata for robust and aligned data collection and evaluation for the digital inclusion field. 
  3. Sustainability Action Plan Project – NDIA will support the Sites in developing Sustainability Action Plans to continue their DN+ programming after the grant ends. The plans will include an analysis of activities to strengthen public awareness of their DN program, data collection processes, partnerships, and fundraising development strategies. 
  4. Hotspots Project – To address the primary digital inclusion barrier of a lack of access to affordable internet, NDIA will partner with 35 Mile Foundation to provide 6,500 TMobile unlimited data hotspot accounts, hotspot devices, and training for Sites. Twelve of the 13 Sites will distribute and manage hotspots to their program clients.
  5. Professional Development Project – NDIA will provide significant professional development and support positions at the 13 Sites to ensure program success and sustainability.
  6. Communities of Practice Project – NDIA will establish and support Communities of Practice (COP) specific to the meaningful use focus areas at the 13 DN+ Sites to share best practices and build networks supporting clients with advanced technical, health, education, work, and social and civic engagement goals.
  7. DN Resource Hub Project – Hosting DN resources such as guides, tools, DN+ job descriptions, data collection guidance, and DN+ tailored resources to address the meaningful use areas for the DN field.
  8. Digital Navigator National Council Project – This project will support the 13 DN+ Sites and the DN field by advising NDIA on developing digital navigator standards and aligning curricula to them, filling gaps, avoiding duplication, and addressing meaningful use areas.
  9. DN+ Dissemination Project – NDIA and the 13 DN+ Project Sites will share lessons learned throughout the grant period. Disseminating real-time lessons learned supports other DN programs and the sustainability of the subgrantee organizations by increasing knowledge and understanding about DNs within adjacent fields and industries.
  10. DN+ Curriculum Project – By filling curriculum gaps and updating the existing DN Curriculum to include DN+ Positions with training, tools, and resources for supporting clients with goals for health, education, work, and social and civic engagement or need for advanced technical support, this project also enhances the sustainability of the 13 DN+ Sites and the digital navigator field. 

NDIA and our partners are passionately committed to this work, demonstrating our dedication by providing a robust 38% funding match. The largest proportion of match is being provided by the 35 Mile Foundation. Adam Miller, Executive Director of 35 Mile Foundation states “35 Mile Foundation is thrilled to partner with NDIA on its Digital Navigator+ Program. In true NDIA fashion, the program is an ambitious approach toward ensuring our organizations’ shared mission of ensuring everyone can access the technology and resources they need to thrive in the digital world.” 

NDIA is honored to have John Horrigan and Colin Rhinesmith on the DN+ Program’s evaluation team, focusing on impact and sustainability. 

For more information, contact [email protected].