Project Grant 5431DS026

The West Virginia Department of Economic Development, doing business as the West Virginia Development Office, received a $9,011,588 Project Grant from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the State Digital Equity Planning and Capacity Grant Program (CFDA 11.032). The grant will be used to implement the state's Digital Equity Plan and fund activities such as launching digital skills and local digital equity planning programs, piloting a device distribution program, conducting annual program evaluations, and collecting participant data. The grant is expected to narrow the digital divide, improve access to digital resources, and increase accessibility and impact of community development initiatives across the state of West Virginia, with a focus on unserved and underserved populations. The grant period runs from December 1, 2024 to November 30, 2029, and the Development Office plans to sub-award funds to local entities to support the implementation of the digital equity activities.