The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 provides a historic $65 billion investment to expand internet access and build digital equity throughout the United States. The West Virginia Office of Broadband has launched the Digital Equity Pilot Program to help support and expand digital equity initiatives in West Virginia. Funding applications will be accepted until June 15, 2023.

Funds Available: Applicants may apply for grants of $2,500 or $5,000. Eligible applicants include units of local government, libraries, community and economic development agencies, educational institutions and programs, and nonprofit organizations. Units of local government, and non-profit organizations.  A total of $25,000 is available for this pilot program. 

Eligible Activities: To address West Virginia’s internet service gaps and its digital divide, funds will be used to support innovative programs that support, promote, and enhance digital equity in West Virginia. Applications under this announcement will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1. The degree to which the project will increase economic development in an underserved or unserved area will receive higher priority.
2. Projects that demonstrate adequate capacity to administer the project will receive higher priority.
3. Projects that demonstrate detailed and measurable outcomes will receive higher priority.
4. Projects that demonstrate a high degree of demand from end users for the project services will receive higher priority.

Applicants are encouraged to align proposed projects with the requirements of the Digital Equity Notice of Funding Opportunity and West Virginia’s Digital Equity Plan Proposal. For more information, visit: https://internetforallwv.wv.gov/.