Project Grant 2330DP130

THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL SUPPORT CLOSING THE DIGITAL EQUITY GAP AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATEWIDE DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN. THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT PLAN DEVELOPMENT: SUPPORTING AND BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF MAINE'S NASCENT DIGITAL EQUITY TASKFORCE, ENGAGING WITH ORGANIZATIONS AND PARTNERS THAT WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE COVERED POPULATIONS, CRAFTING A JOINT PLANNING TEAM TO LINK TO THE 5-YEAR ACTION PLANNING PROCESS UNDER THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT ACT (BEAD), ESTABLISHING A BASELINE STARTING POINT THROUGH DATA COLLECTION AND RESEARCH, CONNECTING MEANINGFULLY WITH MAINE PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES TO EXPLORE ASSETS, BARRIERS, AND SOLUTIONS, AND DEVELOPING A DIGITAL EQUITY VISION FOR ALL WITH STRONG PRESENCE IN MULTIPLE DOMAINS INCLUDING HEALTH, EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBUST STATE DIGITAL EQUITY PLAN THAT WILL BENEFIT THE STATE OF MAINE AND PRINCIPALLY UNSERVED AND UNDERSERVED COVERED POPULATIONS STATEWIDE. THE RECIPIENT DOES PLAN TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. SUBAWARDS WILL SUPPORT SURVEY DEVELOPMENT AND COLLECTION, AND SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE FOR DIGITAL INCLUSION PLANNING THROUGH THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE.