ARC announced our first-ever Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) award! Connect Humanity will help 50 underserved communities in Appalachia plan for broadband growth.
The Connect Humanity team will work with local partners across 12 Appalachian states to help communities develop tailored digital equity plans, secure funding for high-speed internet expansion, provide digital literacy and broadband job training, and more.
“Broadband access is essential for Appalachia to thrive and compete in a global economy; without this support, our most rural communities may be left further behind. I commend our states and community partners in every Appalachian subregion for coming together in order to fully participate in our digitalized world,” said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin.
The details on the funding are:
- Location: 50 underserved communities across every subregion of Appalachia (TBA)
- Local Partners: Center on Rural Innovation, Empire State Development, Enterprise Center, Fair Count, Generation WV, Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits & Philanthropy, NC State University Institute for Emerging Issues, SOAR, Student Freedom Initiative, Center for Strategic Partnerships at the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development, Virginia Funders Network
- Community Need: Helping underserved communities in Appalachia compete for some of the $45 billion from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment and Digital Equity Act funding, driving large-scale transformation around broadband access.
- Solution: Connect Humanity will help communities develop tailored digital equity plans designed to ensure high-speed and affordable internet, device access, and digital literacy training.
- Grants Received: $6.3 million ARC ARISE grant
Appalachian communities can get involved at connecthumanity.fund/arise.