Apply for a Tech Kit Grant

News Article
Application period closes Dec. 19, 2022. Grants are available as part of the ARPA Digital Divide Response Project.
Published

The Digital Divide Response Project helps Portlanders overcome barriers to getting online. The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan, which is investing in Portland’s recovery – and our future.

In 2021, Portland City Council committed $3.5 million of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to continue to address the critical need to get devices into the hands of residents disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic and who face barriers to getting online.

In 2022, The City of Portland Office for Community Technology engaged ASCETA, LLC., a woman-owned, woman-led facilitator, to ensure the ARPA Digital Divide Response Project design is community-led. 

Through this engagement process, when asked what would most help bridge the digital divide for priority populations, community members indicated access to computing devices was still a high priority need, along with warranties, software, and accessories, and digital skills training and digital services navigation support.

As a result, this initiative uses ARPA funds to support the distribution of computing devices and digital accessories, digital skills training, and digital navigation services for our community’s most marginalized members (those with intersectionality of known barriers to digital adoption) and aims to build capacity in trusted community-based organizations to deliver these resources.

For more information on the ASCETA engagement process and recommendations, view:

Timeline

Dec. 1, 2022: Application opens

Dec. 2-19, 2022: Information Sessions. OCT staff host information sessions and virtual office hours with interested applicants

Dec. 19, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.: Application deadline

Dec. 20-21, 2023: Application review for baseline eligibility

Jan. 9-13, 2023: Eligible applications reviewed by Selection Committee

Jan. 20, 2023: Applicants selected to receive award announced

Jan. 24 – March 15, 2023: Successful applicants enter into grant agreements

April 1, 2023: Successful applicants begin implementing their projects

Funding available

Applicants were able to apply for resource awards up to $250,000. Applicant organizations were able to request:

  • Up to $100,000 for devices
  • Up to $25,000 for device accessories
  • Up to $125,000 for digital skills training and digital navigation support services

How to apply

The application period closed on Dec. 19, 2022.

Selection Committee Process

The ARPA Tech Kit Selection Committee was made up of 5 individuals who identified as one of our priority populations which is (Black people, Indigenous people, People of color, Houseless or facing housing insecurity, foster youth, Youth with disabilities, Survivors of domestic violence, People impacted by incarceration, People with disabilities, People with language barriers (immigrants, refugees, ESL), Seniors, LGBTQIA+) and had lived experience and/or experience working with front-line community members who are digitally excluded.

These five community leaders reviewed all 33 applications utilizing evaluation criteria and a scoring rubric. The selection committee scored each application and then came together to review each individual application, score, and make funding decisions. They discussed each application and weighed in on the criteria and rubric itself. At the conclusion of the meeting, the committee finalized funding decisions for the ARPA tech kit projects. 

The committee followed the diversity of the criteria set forth by the Asceta recommendations. Those same criteria were centered in the design of the scoring rubric.

The applicants selected for funding represent a diverse group of Portlanders. The committee was focused on including a cross-representation of our priority populations as listed in the notice of funding (and pulled from the Asceta report).

Contact

Adriana Miranda

Community Engagement and Policy Specialist

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