WISCASSET — National Digital Equity Center has is a recipient of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

This $13.7 million award is part of the larger $24.8 million investment from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, according to a news release from the center.

The funding supports the Maine Digital Opportunity Initiative, a program designed to empower local organizations, sustain digital equity efforts, and ensure all Mainers have the digital access they need.

The center will implement several targeted programs to advance digital equity in Maine, including:

• The Digital Navigator Corps, which will connect underserved populations in all 16 counties and five Wabanaki Tribal communities with affordable broadband, devices and digital skills training.

• Digital Skills Training, which will offer more than 45 free courses online and in person, distributing up to 1,000 devices annually, and creating pathways to higher education through partnerships with the Maine Community College System.

• Library-Based Support, training library staff and volunteers to become digital navigators and facilitating digital skills classes across Maine’s libraries.

• Telehealth Integration, collaborating with the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center to expand access to healthcare services through digital tools and training.

The initiative aims to serve more than 25,000 individuals across Maine, focusing on older adults, veterans, individuals with disabilities and rural residents.

For more information visit digitalequitycenter.org.

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