Seattle City Wire

The City of Seattle is awarding $545,000 in Technology Matching Fund (TMF) grants as it continues its work to expand digital literacy and close the technology gap in our community. This year, 18 organizations will receive funding to support their projects. The community match contribution is valued at over $135,000 in cash, volunteer time, supplies, and other contributions. The TMF grant program is in its 26th year supporting community and non-profit groups. 

“Technology is embedded in so many threads of our lives today and I am thrilled we are able to fund passionate groups working to improve digital equity and access to the tools people need to succeed,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “These grants will help real communities who will benefit from technology learning and access — seniors and immigrants, low-income and underrepresented people — providing new opportunities for Seattle neighbors to grow, prosper, and further their education. Together, we can help build a more creative, innovative, and inclusive future for Seattle.” 

This year’s list of winners includes a wide array of non-profits impacting more than 3,500 Seattle residents citywide, serving speakers of nine different languages. They offer digital skills training, devices, technology support, and free/low-cost internet to low-income residents, people with disabilities, English language learners, those who are justice-involved, older adults, BIPOC, immigrants and refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and transgender or gender-expansive adults. 

“This year’s list of Technology Matching Fund Grant recipients represents the vast demographics of our community,” said City Councilmember Sara Nelson, citywide. “The programs served with this funding will touch many people and cultures. I’m thankful we can serve the dedicated organizations looking to address the needs of our community.”  

In addition to grant winners, the funding also supports Digital Navigator projects. These projects aim to increase internet access and adoption by assisting in one-on-one or small groups, just-in-time assistance via phone service, email, text, video chat, and other communication methods.  

“The Technology Matching Fund Grant program has been a staple for the City for over two decades. The outreach, training, and device support stemming from funded community groups is truly inspiring,” said Interim Chief Technology Officer Jim Loter. “This program hits the core of our purpose of providing equitable services to our residents. I look forward to seeing how this program grows as technology evolves.” 

To learn more about the Technology Matching Fund Grant Program, including how to apply for the next grant cycle, visit www.seattle.gov/tech. The TMF grant program is run by the Seattle Information Technology (Seattle IT) Department. Seattle IT is a trusted partner that provides secure, reliable, and complaint technologies, enabling the City to deliver equitable and responsive services to the public. 

The list below represents the 2023 Technology Matching Fund and Digital Navigator projects. 

TECHNOLOGY MATCHING FUND PROJECTS 

Organization: Ada Developers Academy

Project: Laptops for low-income students 

Summary: This project bridges the digital divide for low-income students by providing laptops for learning to code. This immersive, mission-based, coding program fast-tracks participants into high-paying software development positions in less than a year. The project supports low-income and BIPOC students in accessing and successfully completing its program through a variety of wraparound supports and individual coaching. 

Award: $35,100  

Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs of King County  

Project: Technology Support YouthForce College Career Readiness  

Summary: This project closes the digital divide that prevents underserved youth/young adults from attaining post-secondary success. Youth create and complete a unique plan for reaching individual career preparedness goals. Throughout the year, they use devices, reliable internet, and one-to-one instruction available through the Club to explore possible career paths; acquire essential digital literacy skills; and apply for jobs, apprenticeships, and/or internships.  

Award: $35,100  

Organization: Friends of Little Saigon

Project: Digital Capacity Building  

Summary: This project is a partnership with community partners and volunteers that utilize a curriculum built with The Seattle Public Library to match with businesses and build digital literacy skills. Many family-run businesses do not have adequate capacity to focus on business planning or capacity building. This project continues the work of the Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) in 2021 to increase digital access.  

Award: $35,100  

Organization: InterConnection 

Project: Computers for Community  

Summary: This project will provide digital devices to hundreds of Seattle residents through a network of trusted community partners. High-quality, refurbished laptop computers, along with mice, a one-year warranty, and ongoing technical support will be distributed by Seattle-focused community organizations. These devices will allow organizations to continue the work they are already doing as well as launch new programs and provide digital access to more people in our community. 

Award: $35,100  

Organization: National Asian Pacific Center on Aging 

Project: Digital Skills Training Program  

Summary: This project provides computer classes and device/internet/technical support to elders. The training program is designed to be conducted in Chinese or Vietnamese to cater to their language needs. Its objective is to promote employment and community engagement among these populations. By focusing on job readiness and computer skills, the program provides equitable access to technology and supports economic opportunities for Seattle residents.  

Award: $35,100  

Organization: Orquesta Northwest  

Project: Latinx Youth Music & Technology Outreach  

Summary: This project includes outreach to Latino families and enhanced learning for participants in weekly youth orchestra instructional sessions at Casa Latina. A loaner program provides iPads for use without charge by Latinx youth participants and their families, ages 12-20, as well as the necessary support in Spanish to use the iPads effectively, during instructional sessions and at home. Outreach to the broader Latino community will increase awareness of additional resources for technology training and internet access. 

Award: $34,800  

Organization: Real Change Homeless Empowerment 

Project  Project: Computer Lab  

Summary: This project will provide new computers and software for the Vendor Center, a community hub for over 300 people with lived experiences of homelessness and poverty. The project includes installing and setting up a user-friendly computer lab and rolling out classes to support participants’ learning goals. Training, classes, and support empower participants (vendors of the Real Change newspaper) to learn new digital literacy life skills. Laptops will be available to meet vendors’ needs, encouraging a greater connection with friends or family. Classes offered will teach participants what to include in job applications, job searching, tracking expenses and income, accessing social services, how to use social media, and more. 

Award: $5,120  

Organization: Somali Family Safety Task Force  

Project: Somali Family Digital Literacy  

Summary: This project serves Somali families in their native language by delivering culturally informed digital literacy classes, distributing computers to participants, providing one-on-one assistance to clients needing navigational support and connecting community members to resources for free/reduced internet and digital devices.  

Award: $35,100  

Organization: Villa Comunitaria  

Project: Aula Digital en Acción  

Summary: This project provides basic digital literacy classes to low-income and non-English-speaking Latinx community members. The curriculum for the course has been developed and refined with direct feedback from the community over the past 5 years and it will be taught in Spanish. Courses remove barriers to participation.  

Award: $35,100 

DIGITAL NAVIGATOR PROJECTS 

Organization: Beacon Hill Merchants Association doing business as Beacon Business Alliance

Project: Digital Equity Projects in SE Seattle 

Summary: A workshop series will utilize established communication channels and coordinated outreach methods to invite SE Seattle communities to participate and learn. The workshops will be recorded and include live-streamed speaker presentations for ongoing use so they are accessible over time. The workshop series will include the Digital Navigator Train the Trainer certification program to open up opportunities to residents who are interested in increasing their own digital access levels and working in the community to help others.  Award: $13,300 

Organization: Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle 

Project: Eritrean Digital Navigator Project 

Summary: This project will offer comprehensive technical support to Eritreans of all ages through dedicated staff, who will provide information and referrals to help community members access and utilize the internet and digital devices, assist with basic digital navigation and troubleshoot technology issues through both phone and one-to-one appointments at the Community Center in Seattle’s North Rainier neighborhood. The goal is to help East African residents have the technological capacity to access essential services, health and wellness opportunities, employment and financial benefits, academic resources, civic and cultural engagement opportunities, and social connections to decrease isolation, increase their sense of engagement, and help them meet their basic needs. 

Award: $35,100 

Organization: Horn Of Africa Services 

Project: HOAS Digital Navigation Expansion 

Summary: This project addresses the technology needs of Seattle’s Horn of Africa community by expanding an existing Digital Navigator program. The work will focus on implementing the following activities: Digital Navigator services, digital literacy training, devices and technical support, access to internet, and introducing and helping with an affordable connection program.  

Award: $35,100 

Organization: Kin On Health Care Center 

Project: Senior Resource and Support Center 

Summary: This project aims to provide linguistically appropriate information and technical support for low-income and non-English-speaking Asian seniors. By doing so, not only will they be able to stay informed and active at home, but they will also access benefits and resources they need online. The project provides free internet and digital connectivity, multi-language benefits and resource information, and one-to-one technical help to low-income Asian seniors. 

Award: $35,100 

Organization: Multimedia Resources and Training Institute 

Project: MMRTI Digital Navigator Project 

Summary: This project will address digital adoption barriers experienced by community members disproportionately impacted by the digital divide: low-income BIPOC residents, individuals with disabilities, seniors, and other community members at high risk of exclusion to help them find and apply for affordable connectivity, obtain low-cost or free computing devices, complete online tasks, and connect to digital skills training and technical support. Linguistically/culturally appropriate Digital Navigators will provide one-to-one or small group assistance in person or via phone, email, text, or video chat to low-income residents living in Yesler Terrace, the Central District, South Seattle, Northgate and Lake City who speak Amharic, Somali, Tigrinya, Chinese, Vietnamese, Oromo, and English.  

Award: $35,100 

Organization: Sound Generations 

Project: Digital Navigators at Senior Centers 

Summary: Digital Navigators at senior centers will provide services to hundreds of seniors. Digital Navigators empower seniors to confidently use technology and their digital devices, ensuring that they can connect to online resources, the online community, and the digital world. This project bridges the digital divide between older adults and younger adults, but also among older adults themselves—reaching BIPOC older adults and those with limited English language proficiency—with a focus on improving or building digital skills and bolstering confidence in these skills. 

Award: $35,100 

Organization: The Prison Scholar Fund 

Project: Sparking Reentry 

Summary: This project is a partnership with the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Coding Dojo (CD), the Center for Ethical Leadership (CEL), and other local community organizations to launch the Sparking Reentry program to provide justice-involved community members an equal footing in the 21st century with access to technology, high-speed internet, and the skills to use it. Access to internet-connected devices and training in basic computer literacy and navigation will enable participants to use devices to reintegrate into society and acquire key skills for the digital age. Students who demonstrate an aptitude for computer coding are provided with a pathway to a coding boot camp.  

Award: $35,100 

Organization: Tigrean Community Association 

Project: Tigray Digital Connect 

Summary: This project addresses the technology needs of Seattle residents, focusing on empowering senior citizens and Tigryian speakers who are refugees and immigrants. In partnership with Tegaru Professionals Network and the Tegaru Resource Group, the project provides digital literacy tools predominantly using Digital Learn, a free online platform. Through Tigray Digital Connect, the community will be empowered to navigate technology and bridge the digital divide in Seattle confidently. 

Award: $35,100 

Organization: The Friendship Circle of Washington 

Project: Teen & Young Adult Life Skills 

Summary: This project provides group and one-to-one digital navigation training to young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, equipping them with the skills and confidence to perform essential life skills activities. Armed with these digital navigation skills, young people with disabilities are prepared to fully participate and succeed in the community. Programming includes money management and banking basics, internet safety, computer navigation, emails and resume writing, and job search and applications. 

Verizon Sponsorship: $25,000 

Original source can be found here.