HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MD DEPT OF

Award purpose

PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO IMPLEMENT THE MARYLAND DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN DEVELOPED PURSUANT TO THE STATE DIGITAL EQUITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM. ACTIVITIES TO THE PERFORMED: THE PROPOSED PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: DEVELOP LOCAL DIGITAL EQUITY PLANS AND CONDUCT OUTREACH; INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES; FUND DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES; FUND TECHNICAL SUPPORT INITIATIVES THAT ARE PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE, PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO THOSE NAVIGATING ONLINE SERVICES, COMPUTERS, THE INTERNET, AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES; CONNECT INCARCERATED AND RE-ENTERING INDIVIDUALS, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, AND VETERANS WITH DIGITAL SKILLS EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, DIGITAL NAVIGATION, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND OTHER DIGITAL INCLUSION ACTIVITIES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE PROPOSED PROJECTS WILL RESULT IN: HIGHER DEVICE ADOPTION, BROADBAND (WI-FI) AVAILABILITY, COMMUNITY COMPUTER CENTERS, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVICE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH DEVICE REFURBISHMENT; INCREASED DIGITAL LITERACY WITHIN TARGETED POPULATIONS, GREATER INDEPENDENCE IN USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, AND INCREASED BROADBAND ADOPTION.; REDUCE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING AND USING DIGITAL DEVICES AND THE INTERNET FOR COVERED POPULATIONS; OUTREACH INITIATIVES WILL ENHANCE COMMUNITY INTEGRATION AND IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF COVERED POPULATIONS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND AND PRINCIPALLY UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COVERED POPULATIONS STATEWIDE. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT DOES PLAN TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. THE PURPOSE IS FOR IMPLEMENTING THE DE PLAN ACTIVITIES.