Digital Equity Grant

To help achieve Governor Cooper’s goal to close the digital divide in North Carolina, the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy launched a series of digital equity grant programs to help North Carolinians afford high-speed internet, obtain digital devices and get access to digital literacy courses to safely and effectively participate in today’s digital economy.

Digital Champion Grant Program (Awarded June 2024)

We sought partnershipsto positively impact target populations identified in the Digital Equity Act, including low-income households, individuals who primarily reside in a rural area, older Americans/aging residents, incarcerated and/or second chance citizens/reentry/justice involved, veterans, individuals with disabilities, including individuals with a language barrier (including individuals who are English learners or whose first language is not English and/or individuals who have low levels of literacy), and individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group. 

• Digital Champion Grant Program Guidance
• FAQs

Eligible Uses:
All projects must develop or expand digital equity programming and address at least one of the following elements of digital inclusion:

• Affordable, reliable high-speed internet; 
• Provision of Internet enabled devices (computer, laptops, etc.) that meet users' needs;
• Provide access to digital literacy and skills training 
• Provide quality technical support; and
• Creation of applications and online content designed to enable and encourage sufficiency, participation and collaboration.

Digital Navigator Initiative (Awarded May 2023)

We awarded $4 million for the state’s first digital navigator initiative to be used to help connect North Carolinians to services that aid with home connectivity issues, digital device use, digital skills acquisition, and Affordable Connectivity Program enrollment.
 

State Government Entities (Awarded January 2023)

We awarded $9.9 million to state government entities to develop or expand large-scale digital equity projects that can be deployed quickly. Applicants must have been an entity of North Carolina state government, which includes:

• All state government organizations as outlined here;
• University of North Carolina System or individual schools, universities, or centers within the system; and
• N.C. Community College System or individual schools, colleges or centers within the system.

Questions?

Email the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy digitalequity@nc.gov.