The grants are part of the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge, which is a competition jointly organized by the two groups. The grants come in three amounts and are divided by city size. So, three large cities were awarded $250,000, three medium-sized cities were awarded $150,000 and four small cities were awarded $75,000.
Organizers announced winners for the grants this week. The large cities were Charlotte, N.C.; Los Angeles; and Portland, Ore. The medium cities were Cleveland; Little Rock, Ark.; and Richmond, Va. Finally, the small cities were Kinston, N.C.; Michigan City, Ind.; White Plains, N.Y.; and York, Penn.
The program's application criteria placed an emphasis on digital skills training applications, especially those that helped people prepare for modern, digital careers.
Cleveland announced that it had won a grant this week for its REC-N-TEC initiative, which uses the computer labs that are already in the city to support things like STEM programs and entrepreneurship programs for young people.
"We have a powerful opportunity to bridge Cleveland’s digital divide by deploying real resources directly to residents through our established network of recreation centers," said Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb in a statement. "By reaching residents where they are, we can bolster individualized career pathways, better focus on vulnerable populations, and ensure every resident is ready for 21st-century jobs — all at locations already convenient to them."
More information about the winning programs in the other cities can be found here.
