The City of Seattle is awarding $545,000 in Technology Matching Fund grants to help support 18 nonprofit organizations and their projects to expand digital literacy and close the technology gap.
The Seattle Information Technology Dept. announced the list of winners on Wednesday. The varying nonprofits offer digital skills training, devices, technology support, and free/low-cost internet to low-income residents, people with disabilities, English language learners, those who are justice-involved, older adults, BIPOC, immigrants and refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and transgender or gender-expansive adults.
“Technology is embedded in so many threads of our lives today and I am thrilled we are able to fund passionate groups working to improve digital equity and access to the tools people need to succeed,” Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said in a statement. “Together, we can help build a more creative, innovative, and inclusive future for Seattle.”
The total award includes a community match contribution valued at more than $135,000 in cash, volunteer time, supplies, and other contributions. The TMF grant program was started in 1997 to support community and nonprofit groups.
In addition to grant winners, the funding also supports Digital Navigator projects aimed at increasing internet access and adoption by assisting in one-on-one or small groups, just-in-time assistance via phone service, email, text, video chat, and other communication methods.
Here’s the list of 2023 Technology Matching Fund and Digital Navigator projects. Visit the Seattle IT website for full summaries of each project.
Technology Matching Fund projects
Organization: Ada Developers Academy
- Project: Laptops for low-income students
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs of King County
- Project: Technology Support YouthForce College Career Readiness
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Friends of Little Saigon
- Project: Digital Capacity Building
- Award: $35,100
Organization: InterConnection
- Project: Computers for Community
- Award: $35,100
Organization: National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
- Project: Digital Skills Training Program
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Orquesta Northwest
- Project: Latinx Youth Music & Technology Outreach
- Award: $34,800
Organization: Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project
- Project: Computer Lab
- Award: $5,120
Organization: Somali Family Safety Task Force
- Project: Somali Family Digital Literacy
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Villa Comunitaria
- Project: Aula Digital en Acción
- Award: $35,100
Digital Navigator Projects
Organization: Beacon Hill Merchants Association doing business as Beacon Business Alliance
- Project: Digital Equity Projects in SE Seattle
- Award: $13,300
Organization: Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle
- Project: Eritrean Digital Navigator Project
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Horn Of Africa Services
- Project: HOAS Digital Navigation Expansion
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Kin On Health Care Center
- Project: Senior Resource and Support Center
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Multimedia Resources and Training Institute
- Project: MMRTI Digital Navigator Project
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Sound Generations
- Project: Digital Navigators at Senior Centers
- Award: $35,100
Organization: The Prison Scholar Fund
- Project: Sparking Reentry
- Award: $35,100
Organization: Tigrean Community Association
- Project: Tigray Digital Connect
- Award: $35,100
Verizon Sponsored Project
Organization: The Friendship Circle of Washington
- Project: Teen & Young Adult Life Skills
- Verizon Sponsorship: $25,000
