Instructions
To address the challenges of the digital divide identified by ITS' 2020 digital survey, the City has established a digital grants fund to support local nonprofits in their efforts to bridge the digital divide. ITS anticipates inventive proposals that build capacity in the community to address digital opportunity challenges.
The goal of the City's Digital Opportunity Grants is to support projects that build individual and community capacity to:
- help people access affordable broadband including assistance with signing up for cost-reduced plans, such as the one provided by The City and Gigabit Now’s Partnership
- help people secure effective computing devices to effectively use the internet
- help people develop the knowledge, familiarity and digital skills needed to secure the benefits of the internet and computers
- help people develop skills to use the internet safely, securely and confidentially to engage in digital life
- mitigate community digital opportunity gaps identified in the City's Digital Opportunity survey (https://bton.in/dcs02)
- support initiatives recommended in the city's Digital Strategic Plan (https://bloomington.in.gov/digital-opportunity).
In addition to completing this online application, you will need to attach the following documents to this application:
• Project Budget detailing the use of City funds
• Year-end financial statement including fund balance, total revenue and expenditures
• Cost quotes on hardware, software or other items showing budget research (if organization is seeking funding for capital expenses/improvements)
• 501(c)(3) documentation
• A Memorandum of Understanding between parties (if this is a collaborative project)
• Secretary of State Certification, showing that your organization is in good standing with the state of Indiana
The Application deadline is Wednesday July 16th at 5:00 pm. If you have questions,
please reach out to Asia Abang, Digital Opportunity Specialist, Asia.Abang@bloomington.in.gov.