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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released information about their
<b><a href="https://www.ntia.gov/federal-register-notice/2024/notice-funding-opportunity-digital-equity-competitive-grant-program">Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program</a></b> today.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.ntia.gov/federal-register-notice/2024/notice-funding-opportunity-digital-equity-competitive-grant-program">https://www.ntia.gov/federal-register-notice/2024/notice-funding-opportunity-digital-equity-competitive-grant-program</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">These competitive grants will resource initiatives that support populations most impacted by digital divides. Populations covered include: Low-income households, older adults, justice-impacted
people, people living with disabilities, rural communities, and racial and ethnic minority groups.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">This is a national, multi-year grant program. The deadline for applications for the first year is
<b>September 23, 2024</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Eligible projects for this program include<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Develop and implement digital inclusion activities that benefit one or more of the Covered Populations;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Facilitate the adoption of broadband by the Covered Populations in order to provide educational and employment opportunities;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Implement training programs for the Covered Populations that cover basic, advanced, and applied skills;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Implement workforce development programs;
<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Make available equipment, instrumentation, networking capability and digital network technology for broadband services to Covered Populations
at low or no cost; <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:0in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Construct, upgrade, expand, or operate new or existing public access computing centers for Covered Populations through community anchor
institutions (including libraries!)<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Complementing the national grant program, state-level funding for digital equity initiatives will also be available from the
<b><a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/de/pages/default.aspx">Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program</a></b>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Funding opportunities in this program will be based on the
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/Publications/Broadband/ORDigitalEquityPlan.pdf">
State of Oregon Digital Equity Plan</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">State Library staff will share more details about opportunities for libraries under this program as they become available. Those that would like to track this program directly are encouraged
to attend the webinar series hosted by the <a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/de/pages/default.aspx">
Oregon Broadband Office</a>. The first event in this series will be on July 25 at 12:10 pm. For more information and registration info, go to the
<a href="https://www.oregon.gov/biz/programs/de/pages/default.aspx">Broadband Office website</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Resources for grant proposals and applications<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Technical Assistance Hub for application help -
<a href="https://broadbandusa.ntia.gov/technical-assistance-hub">https://broadbandusa.ntia.gov/technical-assistance-hub</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Digital Equity Act Program overview -
<a href="https://broadbandusa.ntia.gov/funding-programs/digital-equity-act-programs">
https://broadbandusa.ntia.gov/funding-programs/digital-equity-act-programs</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Digital Equity Resources & Tools for Libraries -
<a href="https://www.ala.org/advocacy/broadband/digital-equity-resources/library-resources">
https://www.ala.org/advocacy/broadband/digital-equity-resources/library-resources</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Partnerships<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Both programs mentioned above favor initiatives that involve partnerships among community based organizations, state and local government entities, and other community anchor institutions like
schools and health care organizations. If you would like assistance in identifying and contacting potential partners for grant proposals, feel free to contact me at
<a href="mailto:arlene.weible@slo.oregon.gov">arlene.weible@slo.oregon.gov</a> or 503-378-5020.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black">Arlene Weible, MLS (she/her/hers)<span style="mso-ligatures:none"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Library Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Oregon Federal Regional Depository Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">State Library of Oregon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#2E74B5"><a href="mailto:arlene.weible@slo.oregon.gov"><span style="color:#0563C1">arlene.weible@slo.oregon.gov</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
<b>|</b> 503-378-5020 <b>|</b><span style="color:#2E74B5"> <a href="http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries">
<span style="color:#0563C1">http://www.oregon.gov/library/libraries</span></a></span><u><span style="color:#0563C1"><o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><u><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:blue"><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><img border="0" width="342" height="43" style="width:3.5625in;height:.4479in" id="Picture_x0020_27" src="cid:image001.png@01DADDA8.57852A00" alt="State Library of Oregon Logo"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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